Beattyville STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Beattyville, Kentucky

Beattyville STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 198 White Ash Road in Beattyville, Kentucky, within Lee County. The plant serves a population of about 3,918 people, classifying it as a small community system under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the Clean Water Act for most municipal facilities in the United States. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity is 2,271.24 million gallons per year, with an actual discharge volume of 704.09 million gallons per year, indicating operational capacity below design. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Kentucky River basin, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's operations are regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, ensuring compliance with water quality standards.

Beattyville STP discharges into the Kentucky River watershed, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This river system supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several species of freshwater mussels and migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.