Westphalia WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Anderson County, Kansas

Westphalia WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Anderson County, Kansas, serving a small population of 165 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the US Clean Water Act for most domestic wastewater facilities. The plant has a designed capacity of 75.71 units and currently treats an average daily flow of 41.64 units, indicating it operates well below its capacity. As a US facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Neosho River basin, part of the Arkansas River watershed. This region supports agricultural activities and provides habitat for aquatic species, making proper wastewater treatment essential for maintaining downstream water quality.

The plant's discharge enters a tributary of the Neosho River, which flows into the Arkansas River and eventually reaches the Mississippi River system. The local watershed is primarily agricultural, with runoff from croplands and livestock operations. Proper secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and pathogens that could otherwise impact aquatic ecosystems and downstream water users.