STANTON STL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Red Oak, Iowa

STANTON STL is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on US 34 in Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa. The plant serves a small population of 692 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community within the United States. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 189.27 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 378.54 cubic meters per day, the facility operates within its capacity. The plant is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, contributing to the Missouri River watershed. This region is part of the larger Mississippi River basin, which ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in downstream environments.