Eastbridge STP - Mascot, Tennessee Wastewater Treatment Plant

Eastbridge STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Mascot, Tennessee, within Knox County. The facility serves a population of around 12,000 residents, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category for US regulatory purposes. The plant is situated in the East Tennessee region, an area characterized by rolling hills and proximity to the Tennessee River system. As a US facility, Eastbridge STP operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, established by the Clean Water Act. Plants serving populations of this scale typically require secondary treatment as a minimum standard, with additional nutrient controls if discharging into sensitive waters. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and other pollutants. The plant's treated effluent ultimately reaches the Tennessee River, a major tributary of the Ohio River and part of the Mississippi River basin. The Tennessee River supports diverse aquatic life, including numerous fish species and migratory birds. Downstream, the river flows into the Ohio River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico, making the plant's discharge quality important for regional water quality and downstream ecosystems.

Eastbridge STP discharges into the Tennessee River watershed, which drains into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Tennessee River supports a variety of aquatic species, including endangered mussels and fish, and provides habitat for migratory waterfowl. The plant's location in East Tennessee places it in a region with significant recreational and ecological value, where maintaining water quality is critical for both wildlife and human use.