Overview
Winterset WWTP serves approximately 4,768 residents in Winterset, Iowa. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, supporting the Middle River watershed.
Winterset WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa. Serving a population of about 4,768, the plant is part of the town's essential infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater from residential and commercial sources. As a small to medium-sized facility, Winterset WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary treatment to meet federal and state effluent standards, ensuring protection of local water quality. The plant's treated effluent flows into the Middle River, a tributary of the Des Moines River, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational and drinking water resources downstream. Proper treatment at Winterset WWTP helps maintain the ecological health of these waterways.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Middle River, part of the Des Moines River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River. This watershed supports fish populations and migratory birds, and its water quality is critical for downstream communities and ecosystems. Effective wastewater treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and protects aquatic habitats in this agriculturally influenced region.
Frequently asked questions
Winterset WWTP is located on Clark Tower Road in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa, United States.
The plant serves approximately 4,768 residents in the city of Winterset and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Middle River, a tributary of the Des Moines River, which flows to the Mississippi River.
As a U.S. facility, Winterset WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which sets limits on pollutants in the discharge.
Plants of this size typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters to meet EPA secondary treatment standards, which require removal of at least 85% of biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids.
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