Shambaugh WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Page County, Iowa

Shambaugh WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Page County, Iowa, United States. The plant serves a small population of 190 residents and operates as part of the local wastewater infrastructure in the rural Midwest. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 113.56 thousand cubic meters per year and an annual discharge volume of 75.71 thousand cubic meters, the plant operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, ultimately contributing to the Missouri River watershed. This region supports agricultural activities and diverse aquatic habitats, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting downstream water quality and ecosystem health.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Missouri River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed is primarily agricultural, and the plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could contribute to downstream eutrophication. Protecting this waterway is important for maintaining aquatic biodiversity and supporting regional water quality standards.