Monteagle STP 3 - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Monteagle, Tennessee

Monteagle STP 3 is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Monteagle, Tennessee, within Marion County. The plant serves a small population of 917 residents, reflecting the scale of this rural community in the Cumberland Plateau region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 946.35 units and currently discharges 177.91 units, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent from Monteagle STP 3 is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Tennessee River Basin. The Tennessee River flows westward to join the Ohio River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this ecologically diverse region.

Monteagle STP 3 discharges into streams feeding the Tennessee River Basin, which flows through the Appalachian region before joining the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as bass and catfish, and provides habitat for freshwater mussels. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, safeguarding downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.