Cumberland City Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cumberland City, Tennessee

Cumberland City Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cumberland City, Stewart County, Tennessee. The plant serves a small population of 315 residents and operates as a lagoon-based secondary treatment system. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, but within 50 km of the Gulf of Mexico via the Cumberland River system. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), plants of this scale are typically permitted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The designed capacity of 321.76 million gallons per day suggests the plant can handle significant flow variations, though current discharge volume is 53.00 million gallons per day. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Cumberland River, a major tributary of the Ohio River and Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's operation helps protect water quality in the Cumberland River basin, which is ecologically important for fish and wildlife habitats.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Cumberland River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds. The area is part of the Interior Low Plateau ecoregion, characterized by rolling hills and river valleys. Protecting water quality in this system is important for downstream ecosystems and recreational uses.