Whittemore WWTP - Kossuth County, Iowa Wastewater Treatment Plant

Whittemore WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The plant serves a small population of 530 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small to medium agglomerations in the United States. Its designed capacity is 605.66 megaliters, with an actual discharge volume of 567.81 megaliters, indicating a utilization rate near capacity. The facility is situated inland, far from coastal waters, reducing direct marine impact. Treated effluent from Whittemore WWTP is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal uses downstream. The plant's operation helps protect water quality in the region's streams and rivers.

Whittemore WWTP discharges into local tributaries of the Des Moines River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports agricultural runoff management and aquatic habitats. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, contributing to the ecological health of downstream waters.