VIOLA STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Viola, Wisconsin

VIOLA STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on State Highway 56 in Viola, Vernon County, Wisconsin. The plant serves a small population of 765 residents, typical of rural communities in the Upper Midwest. Its location in the Kickapoo River watershed places it within the Driftless Area, a region known for its rugged topography and sensitive karst geology. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this scale. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 378.54 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average of 211.98 cubic meters per day, indicating operational capacity below design limits. Treated effluent from VIOLA STP flows into the Kickapoo River, a tributary of the Wisconsin River, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River. The Kickapoo River supports diverse aquatic life and is a popular destination for canoeing and fishing. The plant's discharge must comply with Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permits to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

VIOLA STP discharges into the Kickapoo River, which flows through the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. The Kickapoo River is a tributary of the Wisconsin River, part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. This region features steep valleys and cold-water streams that support trout populations and other sensitive aquatic species. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protect downstream water quality in the Mississippi River system.