ROLAND STL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Story County, Iowa

ROLAND STL is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Howard Township, Story County, Iowa. The facility serves a small community of about 1,324 residents and is part of the state's wastewater infrastructure managed under the Clean Water Act. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. EPA for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 643.52 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 302.83 million gallons per year, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a U.S. facility, it is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from ROLAND STL is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources by reducing pollutant loads before discharge, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality in the Mississippi River system.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the South Skunk River, which flows into the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollutant loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream waters.