CLEVELAND UTILITIES STP - Bradley County, Tennessee Wastewater Treatment Plant

CLEVELAND UTILITIES STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Bradley County, Tennessee, within the East Tennessee region. It serves a population of about 43,441 people, classifying it as a medium-sized facility under U.S. regulatory standards. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as a baseline for municipal wastewater plants. For facilities serving populations between 10,000 and 100,000, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program sets effluent limits to protect water quality. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Tennessee River basin. The Tennessee River flows into the Ohio River, then the Mississippi River, and finally the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations are critical for maintaining water quality in the region's streams and rivers.

The plant discharges into the Tennessee River watershed, which flows through the southeastern United States before joining the Ohio River. This basin supports diverse aquatic life, including numerous fish species and migratory birds. The downstream environment includes ecologically sensitive areas that benefit from proper wastewater treatment to prevent nutrient pollution and protect biodiversity.