CAVELAND ENV AUTH HORSE CAVE STP - Barren County, Kentucky Wastewater Treatment Plant

CAVELAND ENV AUTH HORSE CAVE STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,420 residents, operating under state and federal regulations to manage wastewater from the local community. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal plants. With a designed capacity of 1,059.91 thousand cubic meters per year and an average discharge volume of 492.10 thousand cubic meters per year, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a U.S. facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Kentucky Division of Water, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Barren River, a tributary of the Green River, which ultimately drains 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 operation helps maintain the ecological health of these waterways.

The plant discharges into the Barren River watershed, which flows into the Green River, a major tributary of the Ohio River. This river system supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several sensitive species. The area is part of the Mississippi River basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. Proper treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream aquatic habitats and water quality.