Overview
ULYSSES WWTP serves Ulysses, Kansas, treating wastewater for approximately 5,474 residents. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal facilities.
ULYSSES WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ulysses, Kansas, a small city in Grant County. The plant serves a population of about 5,474 people, typical of a small agglomeration in the rural Great Plains region. As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater to protect water quality. plants of this scale typically employ secondary treatment, such as activated sludge or lagoon systems, to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements. Its population equivalent suggests a moderate-scale operation. The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways, likely tributaries of the Arkansas River basin, which flows through Kansas into Oklahoma and eventually to the Mississippi River. The surrounding region is semi-arid and agricultural, making water quality protection critical for downstream ecosystems and irrigation uses.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters local streams within the Arkansas River watershed, which drains southeast through Kansas and Oklahoma before joining the Mississippi River. The region's semi-arid climate and agricultural land use make the receiving waters sensitive to nutrient loading, which can impact aquatic life and downstream water quality. Protecting these streams supports local biodiversity and maintains water resources for farming communities.
Frequently asked questions
ULYSSES WWTP is located in Ulysses, Kansas, in Grant County, United States.
The plant serves approximately 5,474 residents in the Ulysses area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the Arkansas River basin, which ultimately flows to the Mississippi River.
As a U.S. facility, ULYSSES WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
For small agglomerations like Ulysses, secondary treatment is standard, often using activated sludge, trickling filters, or lagoon systems to meet EPA effluent guidelines.
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