LFUCG W Hickman STP - Jessamine County, Kentucky Wastewater Treatment Plant

LFUCG W Hickman STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Jessamine County, Kentucky, serving a population of around 126,842. The facility is part of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's wastewater system and plays a key role in managing the region's wastewater. As a large agglomeration serving over 100,000 people, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment under the US Clean Water Act. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, issued by the Kentucky Division of Water, regulate its discharges to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Kentucky River basin, ultimately flowing to the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities, making proper treatment essential for environmental and public health.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Kentucky River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish and macroinvertebrate communities, and provides drinking water for downstream populations. The region's karst topography can make groundwater vulnerable to contamination, emphasizing the need for effective wastewater treatment.