WAUKESHA STP - Waukesha, Wisconsin Wastewater Treatment Plant

WAUKESHA STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located at 501 Sentry Drive in Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States. The facility serves a population of approximately 70,867, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under US regulatory standards. The plant is situated in Waukesha County, part of the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area. As a US-based facility, WAUKESHA STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. For plants serving populations of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, with additional nutrient removal standards applicable in sensitive watersheds. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating a facility sized to handle the community's wastewater flows. The plant discharges treated effluent into a receiving water body within the Fox River watershed, which ultimately drains into Lake Michigan via the Mississippi River system. This connection to the Great Lakes basin places the plant within a region of significant ecological importance, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational uses. The plant's performance directly affects downstream water quality in the Fox River and Lake Michigan.

WAUKESHA STP discharges into the Fox River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish populations and migratory birds. The plant's location within the Great Lakes basin adds regional significance, as nutrient discharges can impact Lake Michigan's water quality and contribute to algal blooms.