NIOTA STP - Niota, Tennessee Wastewater Treatment Plant

NIOTA STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Niota, McMinn County, Tennessee, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,419 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required for most municipal facilities in the United States. With a designed capacity of 3,709.69 m³/day and an average daily discharge volume of 757.08 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Tennessee River system, part of the larger Mississippi River basin. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water resources for communities downstream. The plant's operations are subject to state and federal regulations to protect water quality in the region.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Tennessee River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports aquatic habitats and is used for recreation and water supply. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream ecosystems.