SMITH CENTER WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Smith County, Kansas

SMITH CENTER WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Smith County, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,684 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet Clean Water Act standards. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which governs discharge permits for facilities of this scale. The plant's treatment process is secondary, which typically involves biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,059.91 units and an average daily discharge of 635.95 units, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The plant's performance is monitored to ensure compliance with state and federal water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body within the Kansas River basin, which ultimately drains into the Missouri River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal uses downstream. The plant's operations help protect local streams and rivers from nutrient pollution and pathogens, contributing to the ecological health of the region.

SMITH CENTER WWTP discharges into a tributary of the Kansas River basin, which flows into the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish and macroinvertebrate communities. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in downstream rivers that are used for recreation, irrigation, and drinking water supply.