Overview
Harlan STP serves approximately 4,550 residents in Rio Vista, Kentucky. The plant operates under U.S. Clean Water Act regulations, ensuring treated wastewater meets state and federal standards before discharge.
Harlan STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Rio Vista, Harlan County, Kentucky. Serving a population of about 4,550, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater in this Appalachian community. As a U.S. facility, Harlan STP operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal plants. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program governs its discharge, with Kentucky's environmental agency overseeing compliance. For a plant of this scale, typical treatment includes biological processes to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into a nearby stream or river within the Cumberland River basin, which ultimately flows to the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for communities downstream. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Environmental context
Harlan STP discharges into a tributary of the Cumberland River system, which flows through the Appalachian region before joining the Ohio River. The watershed supports diverse aquatic species and provides drinking water for downstream communities. Maintaining treatment standards helps protect this sensitive mountain ecosystem from nutrient pollution and pathogen contamination.
Frequently asked questions
Harlan STP is located on Good Neighbor Road Spur in Rio Vista, Harlan County, Kentucky, in the Appalachian region of the United States.
Harlan STP serves approximately 4,550 residents in the Rio Vista area.
Harlan STP discharges treated effluent into a local waterway within the Cumberland River basin, which flows to the Ohio River and ultimately the Mississippi River.
Harlan STP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by Kentucky's environmental agency.
For a plant of this size in Kentucky, secondary treatment is standard, typically involving biological processes like activated sludge or trickling filters to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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