TONICA STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Ticona, Illinois

TONICA STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ticona, LaSalle County, Illinois. The plant serves a small population of 685 residents, providing advanced treatment to protect local water quality. It operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for discharges into surface waters. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, exceeding the secondary treatment standard typically required for municipal plants. It has a designed capacity of 454.25 units and currently discharges 492.10 units, indicating operation near or slightly above capacity. As an inland facility, it is not subject to coastal discharge regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into a receiving water body within the Illinois River basin, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and protect downstream aquatic ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Illinois River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a larger system affected by nutrient pollution. Advanced treatment at TONICA STP helps mitigate local and downstream impacts on water quality and habitat.