WARRENSBURG STP - Macon County, Illinois Wastewater Treatment Plant

WARRENSBURG STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Macon County, Illinois, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,562 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment facility within the state's wastewater infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for most municipal wastewater facilities. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity is 1,059.91 million gallons per year, and it currently discharges 529.96 million gallons per year, indicating it operates below its full capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local receiving water body, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River Basin. The plant plays a role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems, including the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, by reducing pollutant loads from the community.

The plant discharges into a local waterway that is part of the Mississippi River Basin, one of the largest drainage systems in the world. The Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient pollution from wastewater and agricultural runoff contributes to seasonal hypoxic zones. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic and nutrient loads, supporting the health of downstream aquatic habitats and mitigating eutrophication risks.