OAK RIDGE Rarity Ridge WWTP - Oak Ridge, Tennessee Wastewater Treatment Plant

OAK RIDGE Rarity Ridge WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, within Roane County. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,200 residents, operating as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure to manage domestic sewage from the community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 2,271.24 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 764.65 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well within its capacity. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), plants of this scale are typically permitted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Tennessee River, a major tributary of the Ohio River and part of the Mississippi River basin. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities, making proper treatment essential for environmental health.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Tennessee River, which then joins the Ohio River and eventually the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife species, including several native mussels and fish that are sensitive to water quality. The Tennessee River basin is an important ecological corridor for migratory birds and aquatic species.