Livingston STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Livingston, Kentucky

Livingston STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Livingston, Rockcastle County, Kentucky. The plant serves a small population of 204 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 227.12 units and currently treats an average daily flow of 166.56 units. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, facilities of this scale are typically regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. Secondary treatment is the minimum standard required for municipal wastewater plants in the United States. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately flows into the Rockcastle River, a tributary of the Cumberland River system. The Cumberland River drains into the Ohio River, which joins the Mississippi River and reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting local streams and downstream aquatic habitats from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant discharges into a small stream within the Rockcastle River watershed, which flows into the Cumberland River. The Cumberland River supports diverse aquatic life, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish. Downstream, the river joins the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Protecting water quality in this headwater region is critical for maintaining the ecological health of the broader river system.