WASHINGTON WWTP - Washington County, Kansas Wastewater Treatment Plant

WASHINGTON WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Washington County, Kansas, United States. It serves a small community of approximately 1,223 residents, reflecting its role in rural wastewater management within the state. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 681.37 units and a current discharge volume of 461.82 units, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such plants are regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Kansas River basin, contributing to the Missouri River watershed. This system supports aquatic habitats and agricultural water supplies in the region, making proper treatment essential for maintaining downstream ecological health.

The plant's discharge enters local streams that flow into the Kansas River, a major tributary of the Missouri River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation and recreation. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to protect downstream water quality in the Missouri River basin, which eventually reaches the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.