Belcher Sanitation District, Cedarville

Overview

Belcher Sanitation District is a projected wastewater treatment plant in Cedarville, Kentucky, serving approximately 9,000 people. It will operate under the US Clean Water Act framework.

Belcher Sanitation District is a planned wastewater treatment facility located in Cedarville, Kentucky, within Pike County. The plant is designed to serve a population of around 9,000 residents, addressing the wastewater needs of this rural Appalachian community. As a projected facility, it represents future infrastructure development for the region. As a US-based plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, Belcher Sanitation District will be subject to the Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. These regulations mandate appropriate treatment levels to protect water quality, typically secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. The plant's design and operation will need to comply with state and federal standards. The plant's discharge will ultimately flow into the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, part of the Ohio River basin, which drains to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding area features mountainous terrain and sensitive aquatic ecosystems, including streams supporting diverse fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Proper treatment is essential to protect downstream water quality.

Environmental context

Belcher Sanitation District will discharge into the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, which flows into the Ohio River, then the Mississippi River, and finally the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed in eastern Kentucky is characterized by steep slopes and coal mining history, making water quality protection critical. The receiving streams support diverse aquatic life, including several species of darters and minnows, and are part of an important migratory corridor for fish.

Frequently asked questions

Belcher Sanitation District is located in Cedarville, Kentucky, along KY 80 in Pike County, in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States.

The plant is designed to serve approximately 9,000 people in the Cedarville area and surrounding communities.

As a projected facility, the exact discharge method is not yet finalized, but it will likely discharge into the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, following NPDES permit requirements.

The plant will operate under the US Clean Water Act and will require an NPDES permit issued by the Kentucky Division of Water, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.

For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required under the Clean Water Act, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids.