Overview
BARLOW STP is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 759 people in Ballard County, Kentucky. It discharges treated effluent into local waterways under US Clean Water Act regulations.
BARLOW STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Short Street in Ballard County, Kentucky, serving a population of 759. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States, ensuring compliance with federal and state water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 567.81 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 124.92 cubic meters, indicating ample reserve capacity. As a US facility, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The treated wastewater is discharged to a local stream that drains into the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in this agriculturally intensive region of western Kentucky.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Mississippi River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. Downstream waters are subject to nutrient pollution concerns, making secondary treatment essential for reducing organic loads and protecting the Gulf's hypoxic zone.
Frequently asked questions
BARLOW STP is located on Short Street in Ballard County, Kentucky, United States, serving the local community.
The plant serves a population of 759 people, typical of a small rural wastewater treatment facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local stream that is part of the Mississippi River basin, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
As a US facility, BARLOW STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Kentucky Division of Water, which sets effluent limits for secondary treatment.
For small communities in the US, secondary treatment is standard, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA requirements.
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