Kingsport STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kingsport, Tennessee

Kingsport STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 644 West Industry Drive in Kingsport, Tennessee. It serves a population of around 50,600 people in the Sullivan County area, part of the East Tennessee region. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the coast, and its operations are integral to the local community's sanitation infrastructure. As a U.S. facility, Kingsport STP is subject to the Clean Water Act and operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. For a plant serving approximately 50,000 people, secondary treatment is the standard requirement under federal regulations, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent from Kingsport STP is discharged into the South Fork Holston River, which flows into the Holston River, then the Tennessee River, and ultimately the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities, making proper treatment essential for environmental and public health.

Kingsport STP discharges into the South Fork Holston River, a tributary of the Holston River within the Tennessee River basin. The river system flows through the Appalachian region and eventually reaches the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic species, including several fish and mussel species, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Proper wastewater treatment is critical to maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.