Wood Dale STP North Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wood Dale, Illinois

Wood Dale STP North is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Wood Dale, Illinois, within DuPage County. The plant serves a population of around 10,080 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category for US wastewater infrastructure. As a US facility, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program established by the Clean Water Act. This regulatory framework requires permits that set effluent limits based on technology-based standards and water quality criteria. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains to the Des Plaines River and then to the Illinois River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. This connection to the Mississippi River system means the plant's discharge contributes to water quality in a large, ecologically significant basin that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions downstream.

The plant's treated effluent enters the Des Plaines River watershed, which flows into the Illinois River and then the Mississippi River. This extensive river system supports a wide range of aquatic species and provides critical habitat for migratory birds and fish. The Mississippi River basin is one of the most important ecological corridors in North America, and maintaining water quality through effective wastewater treatment is essential for the health of downstream ecosystems.