URBANA WWTP - Urbana, Iowa Wastewater Treatment Plant

URBANA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Sewage Lagoon Road in Urbana, Iowa, within Benton County. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,390 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is the minimum required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,816.99 m³/day and reports an average daily discharge volume of 832.79 m³/day, indicating it operates well within its capacity. As a secondary treatment plant, it uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids before discharging treated effluent. The facility is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The treated wastewater is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Mississippi River Basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in the region, which includes agricultural and rural areas. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and maintains the ecological health of receiving waters.

URBANA WWTP discharges into a local stream that flows into the Cedar River, a tributary of the Iowa River, which eventually joins the Mississippi River. The downstream environment includes agricultural lands and rural communities, where maintaining water quality is critical for aquatic life and recreational use. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic load and suspended solids, supporting the ecological balance of the watershed.