Sylvan Grove WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Lincoln County, Kansas

Sylvan Grove WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Lincoln County, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a small population of 286 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required for most municipal facilities in the US to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 204.41 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 109.78 million gallons per year, the plant operates below its capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Kansas River basin, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality and aquatic ecosystems in the region.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse within the Kansas River watershed, which flows into the Missouri River and then the Mississippi River, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This inland location supports diverse aquatic life and provides important habitat for migratory birds and fish species. The secondary treatment process reduces pollutants to safeguard the ecological health of the receiving waters.