Overview
EVARTS STP is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 1,500 people in Evarts, Kentucky. It discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the Cumberland River basin.
EVARTS STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Evarts, Kentucky, a small community in Harlan County within the Appalachian region. The plant serves a population of about 1,500 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for a small rural agglomeration. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this scale. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of approximately 2,271 cubic meters per day, with an average daily discharge volume of about 344 cubic meters, indicating operational capacity well below its design limit. Treated effluent from EVARTS STP is discharged into local streams that flow into the Cumberland River system, which ultimately drains to the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the headwaters of this major river basin, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into tributaries of the Cumberland River, a major waterway in the southeastern United States that flows through Kentucky and Tennessee before joining the Ohio River. The Cumberland River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including numerous fish species and freshwater mussels. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, which is critical for maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Frequently asked questions
EVARTS STP is located on North Main Street in Evarts, Kentucky, within Harlan County in the Appalachian region of the United States.
EVARTS STP serves approximately 1,500 residents in the Evarts area, making it a small municipal wastewater treatment facility.
EVARTS STP discharges treated effluent into local streams that are part of the Cumberland River watershed, which flows into the Ohio River and ultimately the Mississippi River.
EVARTS STP provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal plants of this size. This typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and solids.
EVARTS STP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all municipal wastewater discharges. The permit is typically issued by the Kentucky Division of Water.
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