Overview
McCreary County Water District serves 3,250 residents in Stearns, Kentucky, treating municipal wastewater under U.S. EPA and state regulations. The plant discharges into local waterways within the Cumberland River basin.
McCreary County Water District (WD) is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Robert Neal Road in Stearns, Kentucky. Serving a population of approximately 3,250, the plant is part of the region's essential water infrastructure in McCreary County, situated in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Kentucky. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Kentucky Division of Water. For a community of this size, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring that organic matter and suspended solids are adequately removed before discharge. The treated effluent is released into local streams that flow into the Cumberland River, a major tributary of the Ohio River. The Cumberland River basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's location inland, away from coastal zones, reduces direct marine impact but requires careful management to protect freshwater ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into tributaries of the Cumberland River, which flows through Kentucky and Tennessee before joining the Ohio River. The Cumberland River basin is ecologically significant, supporting species such as the endangered Cumberlandian mussel and various fish. The region's karst topography means groundwater and surface water are closely connected, making treatment quality critical for protecting both local streams and the broader watershed.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Robert Neal Road in Stearns, Kentucky, within McCreary County in the southeastern part of the state.
The facility serves approximately 3,250 residents in the Stearns area and surrounding parts of McCreary County.
Treated effluent is discharged into local streams that are part of the Cumberland River watershed, ultimately flowing into the Ohio River.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the Kentucky Division of Water, which sets limits on pollutants.
For a community of this size, secondary treatment is standard, involving biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
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