Walnut WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Walnut, Kansas

Walnut WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Walnut, Crawford County, Kansas. It serves a small population of 218 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated on South Main Street and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for most municipal facilities under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. Its designed capacity is 151.42 volume units, with an actual discharge volume of 83.28 volume units, indicating operational headroom. As a small facility, it is subject to state-level oversight by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The treated effluent from Walnut WWTP is discharged into local streams that are part of the Neosho River basin, which ultimately drains into the Arkansas River and then the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses downstream. The plant's location inland, far from coastal areas, reduces direct marine impact.

Walnut WWTP discharges into small tributaries of the Neosho River, which flows into the Arkansas River and eventually the Mississippi River. The local watershed supports a mix of agricultural land and small communities, with the receiving waters providing habitat for fish and other aquatic species. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality by reducing organic pollutants and suspended solids.