Matewan WWTP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Matewan, West Virginia

Matewan WWTP is a wastewater treatment facility located in Matewan, West Virginia, serving a population of about 2,052. The plant is situated in the Appalachian region of the United States, an area characterized by mountainous terrain and coal mining history. As a small municipal plant, it plays a key role in managing local wastewater for the community. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, wastewater treatment plants of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant's treatment processes and capacity are designed to comply with state and federal regulations, ensuring that effluent quality protects public health and the environment. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local waterway that flows into the Tug Fork River, a tributary of the Big Sandy River, which ultimately drains into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River system. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in maintaining water quality across a broad watershed that supports diverse aquatic life and recreational uses.

The plant's treated effluent enters a local stream that feeds into the Tug Fork River, part of the Ohio River basin. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and is an important corridor for migratory birds. The Appalachian region's steep slopes and coal mining legacy make water quality management critical to preventing sedimentation and acid mine drainage impacts downstream.