Shullsburg STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Town of Shullsburg, Wisconsin

Shullsburg STP is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in the Town of Shullsburg, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,228 residents, providing tertiary-level treatment to protect local water quality. As an advanced treatment plant, Shullsburg STP goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,090.20 thousand cubic meters per year and currently treats a discharge volume of 374.76 thousand cubic meters per year, indicating ample capacity for future growth. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such facilities operate under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which set strict effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that eventually drains into the Mississippi River basin. The plant plays a critical role in safeguarding the region's surface waters from nutrient pollution and pathogens, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Galena River, which flows into the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is part of the larger Mississippi River basin, a vital migratory corridor for fish and birds. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality in the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.