Henderson Lagoon East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jacks Creek, Tennessee

Henderson Lagoon East is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Jacks Creek, a small community in Chester County, Tennessee. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,000 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. As part of the state's wastewater infrastructure, it plays a key role in managing domestic sewage and protecting public health. The plant operates at the secondary treatment level, which involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 757.08 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 696.52 cubic meters per day, indicating near-capacity operation. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such facilities must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, ensuring effluent meets federal and state standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Tennessee River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for communities downstream. By maintaining secondary treatment, the plant helps reduce nutrient loading and protects the ecological health of the region's waterways.

The plant's discharge enters tributaries of the Tennessee River, which flows into the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including species that depend on clean water for spawning and migration. The surrounding West Tennessee region features rolling hills and agricultural land, where runoff can contribute to nutrient pollution. Secondary treatment at this plant helps mitigate such impacts by reducing biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids in the effluent.