BRODHEAD STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Brodhead, Kentucky

BRODHEAD STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Brodhead, Kentucky, United States. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,239 residents in this small community within Rockcastle County. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater before discharge. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, administered by the Kentucky Division of Water. For a small agglomeration of this size, secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant's designed capacity is 567.81, and it currently discharges 753.30, indicating it operates within its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Rockcastle River, a tributary of the Cumberland River system. The Cumberland River flows into the Ohio River, which joins the Mississippi River and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Rockcastle River, which flows into the Cumberland River, then the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Rockcastle River is known for its diverse aquatic life, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, supporting the ecological health of this sensitive karst watershed.