UNION WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Union, Iowa

UNION WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Union, Iowa, United States. The plant serves a small population of 448 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is typical for communities of this size in the US. The plant has a designed capacity of 227.12 megaliters and treats an annual wastewater volume of 189.27 megaliters. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems by reducing organic pollutants and nutrients before discharge.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Iowa River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. Secondary treatment helps reduce biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids, protecting downstream water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.