TIPTON LAGOON East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cedar County, Iowa

TIPTON LAGOON East is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Red Star Road in Cedar County, Iowa, serving a population of 1,617. The plant is situated in a rural area of eastern Iowa, approximately 50 km from the Mississippi River. As a small-scale facility, it plays a key role in managing domestic wastewater for the surrounding community. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. Lagoon systems are common in small Iowa communities and typically provide secondary treatment through natural biological processes. The facility is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The treated effluent from TIPTON LAGOON East discharges into local streams that drain into the Cedar River, a major tributary of the Iowa River, which ultimately flows into the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.

The plant discharges into the Cedar River watershed, which flows into the Iowa River and then the Mississippi River. This river system supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including freshwater mussels and migratory birds. The region's agricultural land use means that nutrient management is critical to prevent algal blooms and maintain downstream water quality.