CAVELAND ENV AUTH CAVE CITY STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Barren County, Kentucky

CAVELAND ENV AUTH CAVE CITY STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,229 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,059.91 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 529.96 million gallons per year, the facility operates at about 50% capacity, indicating room for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Barren River, a tributary of the Green River, which ultimately 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 discharges into the Barren River watershed, which flows into the Green River and then the Ohio River. This region is part of the Mississippi River basin, one of the largest drainage systems in North America. The local waterways support diverse fish and invertebrate populations and are important for recreation and water supply. Secondary treatment helps protect these ecosystems from nutrient pollution and pathogens.