HWEA Oak Grove WTP - Oak Grove, Kentucky Wastewater Treatment Plant

HWEA Oak Grove WTP is a wastewater treatment facility located at 265 Carter Road in Oak Grove, Kentucky, serving a population of about 4,500. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges to surface waters. As a small-to-medium agglomeration, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment to meet water quality standards. However, U.S. facilities of this scale typically employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The population served suggests a moderate-scale operation. The treated effluent from HWEA Oak Grove WTP likely discharges to a nearby water body within the Cumberland River basin, which ultimately flows to the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems, including the diverse aquatic life supported by these river systems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Cumberland River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is part of a larger river system that provides habitat for fish, mussels, and other wildlife. Protecting water quality in this region is important for maintaining ecological balance and supporting recreational uses.