Overview
Loves Creek STP serves approximately 17,183 people in Knoxville, Tennessee, as part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for facilities of this scale.
Loves Creek STP is a wastewater treatment plant located in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving a population of around 17,183. Situated in the Chilhowee Hills area near Interstate 40, the plant is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, handling domestic sewage from the surrounding community. As a US-based facility, Loves Creek STP operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and likely permitted through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). For a plant serving approximately 17,000 people, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring removal of organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway, ultimately contributing to the Tennessee River basin. The Tennessee River flows into the Ohio River, then the Mississippi River, and finally the Gulf of Mexico. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in protecting water quality in the broader watershed, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses.
Environmental context
Loves Creek STP discharges into a tributary of the Tennessee River, which flows through eastern Tennessee and eventually joins the Ohio River. The Tennessee River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as bass and catfish, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this important regional watershed, which is used for recreation, water supply, and ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
Loves Creek STP is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, near Interstate 40 in the Chilhowee Hills area. The plant serves the eastern part of Knoxville and surrounding communities.
Loves Creek STP serves approximately 17,183 people, making it a medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment plant in the Knoxville area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local waterway that flows into the Tennessee River. The Tennessee River eventually drains into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River, reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
Loves Creek STP operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal plants of this size. The plant is likely permitted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
In the United States, municipal wastewater treatment plants serving around 17,000 people typically employ secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. Some plants may also incorporate nutrient removal or disinfection depending on local discharge requirements.
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