ROME STL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rome, Iowa

ROME STL is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Rome, Henry County, Iowa, United States. The facility serves a small population of 124 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. As a secondary treatment plant, it meets the standard requirements for organic matter and suspended solids removal under the US Clean Water Act. The plant's designed capacity is 37.85 units, with a daily discharge volume matching that figure, indicating full utilization. Secondary treatment is the minimum level required for municipal plants under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which is administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. It is assumed to be active given the discharge data. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Mississippi River basin, given the location in southeastern Iowa. The plant's inland setting and small scale minimize its environmental footprint, but proper nutrient management remains important to protect downstream aquatic ecosystems in the Mississippi River watershed.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The region's agricultural landscape contributes nutrient runoff, making wastewater treatment important for controlling local eutrophication. The small discharge volume reduces but does not eliminate the need for careful nutrient management to protect downstream water quality.