SHICKLEY WWTP - Shickley, Nebraska Wastewater Treatment Plant

SHICKLEY WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Shickley, Nebraska, serving a population of approximately 449 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States, ensuring that effluent meets federal and state water quality standards before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 227.12 cubic meters per day and currently handles an average daily flow of 189.27 cubic meters, operating below its maximum capacity. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which requires permits that set limits on pollutant discharges to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that drain into the Big Blue River basin, ultimately contributing to the Missouri River watershed. This system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses downstream. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Big Blue River basin, which flows into the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife species and is important for irrigation and recreation in Nebraska. The secondary treatment process helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and oxygen depletion.