ST STEPHEN WWTF - Holding Township, Minnesota Wastewater Treatment Plant

ST STEPHEN WWTF is a projected wastewater treatment facility located in Holding Township, Stearns County, Minnesota. The plant is designed to serve a population of 1,600, placing it in the small community category typical of rural Minnesota. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The designed capacity of 757.08 m³/day aligns with the scale of a small agglomeration. The plant's discharge is expected to enter a local waterway within the Mississippi River basin, which ultimately drains to the Gulf of Mexico. As a projected facility, it will contribute to protecting downstream water quality and aquatic ecosystems in the region.

The plant is situated in central Minnesota, within the Upper Mississippi River basin. Treated effluent will likely discharge into a tributary of the Mississippi River, which flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. Proper treatment helps reduce nutrient loading that can contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf.