Crab Orchard Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kentucky - Secondary Treatment Facility

The Crab Orchard wastewater treatment plant is located in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, United States. It serves a population of approximately 1,086 residents in this rural community within Lincoln County. The plant is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure managed by local authorities. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 1,059.91 and an average discharge volume of 446.68, the plant operates well within its capacity. The facility is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Kentucky River basin and then the Ohio River. This contributes to the overall water quality of the Mississippi River watershed. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and ensuring safe water for communities along the drainage chain.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Kentucky River, a major tributary of the Ohio River, which then joins the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for numerous communities. The secondary treatment process helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting the ecological health of the receiving waters.