STAFFORD WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Stafford County, Kansas

STAFFORD WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Stafford County, Kansas, serving a population of 914. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. As a small agglomeration, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The plant provides secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. It has a designed capacity of 548.88 million gallons per year and an annual discharge volume of 344.47 million gallons, indicating moderate utilization. Secondary treatment is standard for plants of this scale in the US. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Arkansas River basin, which flows through Kansas and into Oklahoma. The receiving water body supports aquatic life and agricultural uses downstream. The plant's operations are important for protecting local water quality in the Great Plains region.

The plant discharges into the Arkansas River watershed, which flows southeast through Kansas and into Oklahoma, eventually reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The region's semi-arid climate means that maintaining water quality in local streams is critical for both ecological health and downstream agricultural irrigation. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, supporting aquatic life in the receiving waters.