Benton WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Benton, Tennessee

Benton WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Benton, Polk County, Tennessee. The plant serves a small community of approximately 1,356 residents, providing essential sanitation services for the area. As a secondary treatment plant, it processes domestic wastewater to meet regulatory standards before discharge. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 681.37 thousand gallons per day and an average discharge volume of 560.24 thousand gallons per day, the plant operates below its capacity, indicating adequate treatment capacity for the current population. The facility is regulated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Hiwassee River, a tributary of the Tennessee River. The Tennessee River system ultimately flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River, reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect water quality in the Hiwassee River watershed, which supports diverse aquatic life and recreational activities.

Benton WWTP discharges into local streams that feed the Hiwassee River, part of the Tennessee River basin. The Tennessee River flows into the Ohio River, then the Mississippi River, and finally the Gulf of Mexico. The Hiwassee River supports a variety of fish species and is used for recreation. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed.