Knob Creek STP - Austin Village, Tennessee Wastewater Treatment Plant

Knob Creek STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Austin Village, Washington County, Tennessee. It serves a population of approximately 13,000 people in the eastern part of the state, near the city of Johnson City. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and discharges into local waterways. As a U.S. facility, Knob Creek STP operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Plants serving populations of this scale typically require secondary treatment as a minimum, with possible nutrient removal depending on the receiving water body's sensitivity. Regulatory compliance ensures appropriate treatment levels. The treated effluent from Knob Creek STP likely discharges into Knob Creek, a tributary of the Watauga River, which flows into the South Fork Holston River and ultimately the Tennessee River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water and recreational opportunities for downstream communities. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality in this ecologically important region.

Knob Creek STP discharges into Knob Creek, a tributary of the Watauga River, which joins the South Fork Holston River and flows into the Tennessee River system. The Tennessee River drains into the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is used for recreation and drinking water. The plant's location in the Appalachian region means it must manage potential impacts from stormwater runoff and seasonal flow variations.