SAVAGE SD STL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fort Dodge, Iowa

SAVAGE SD STL is a wastewater treatment facility located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, within Webster County. The plant serves a small population of 641 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small community setting. Its location along US 169 places it in the Elkhorn Township area of north-central Iowa. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 662.45 volume units and a discharge volume matching that figure, the facility operates at full capacity. As a US plant, it falls under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Des Moines River or the Raccoon River, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operation helps maintain water quality in the region's agricultural watershed, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses.

The plant discharges into a local stream within the Des Moines River basin, which flows southeast to the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed is predominantly agricultural, with row crops and livestock operations contributing nutrient runoff. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and helps mitigate eutrophication risks in downstream water bodies, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational uses.