Hawesville Wastewater Treatment Plant: Advanced Treatment in Hancock County, Kentucky

Hawesville wastewater treatment plant is located in Hancock County, Kentucky, United States. It serves a small population of 1,531 residents, providing advanced treatment to protect local water quality. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the municipal infrastructure for the region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. It has a designed capacity of 946.35 thousand cubic meters and discharges 560.24 thousand cubic meters annually. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Kentucky Division of Water. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that drains into the Ohio River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological health of the receiving waters.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Ohio River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed is ecologically significant, supporting diverse fish and wildlife habitats. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient pollution, helping to mitigate hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and protect local water quality for recreation and drinking water.