HWEA Hammond Wood STP - Hopkinsville, Kentucky Wastewater Treatment Plant

HWEA Hammond Wood STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Lafayette Road in Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky. The facility serves a population of approximately 18,050 people, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category for US wastewater infrastructure. As a US-based plant, HWEA Hammond Wood STP operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Kentucky Division of Water. For a plant serving this population size, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient removal depending on the receiving water body's sensitivity. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Cumberland River basin, a major tributary of the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water resources for communities downstream. The plant's location inland, over 50 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact but requires careful management of freshwater quality.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Cumberland River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several species of freshwater mussels and migratory birds. The region's karst topography means groundwater and surface water are closely connected, making proper treatment essential for protecting local water quality.