Overview
OOSTANAULA WWTP serves Athens, Tennessee, treating wastewater for approximately 16,723 residents. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act framework, discharging treated effluent into local waterways.
OOSTANAULA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Athens, Tennessee, within McMinn County. It serves a population of about 16,723 people, placing it in the medium-sized agglomeration category for U.S. plants. The facility is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the coast, and its operations are integral to the local sanitation infrastructure. As a U.S. wastewater treatment plant, OOSTANAULA WWTP is subject to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program under the Clean Water Act. This regulatory framework requires plants of this scale to meet secondary treatment standards, which typically involve biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Compliance with NPDES permits ensures that effluent quality meets state and federal standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tennessee River system. The Tennessee River flows through the southeastern United States, joining the Ohio River and eventually the Mississippi River. This waterway supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water, recreation, and industrial uses for communities downstream. The plant's operations play a key role in protecting water quality in this ecologically significant basin.
Environmental context
OOSTANAULA WWTP discharges into the Tennessee River watershed, a major tributary of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The receiving waters support a variety of fish and wildlife, including several species of freshwater mussels and migratory birds. The plant's effluent must meet NPDES permit limits to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect downstream aquatic habitats.
Frequently asked questions
OOSTANAULA WWTP is located in Athens, Tennessee, in McMinn County, United States.
The plant serves approximately 16,723 people, making it a medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Tennessee River watershed, which flows into the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Plants of this size typically provide secondary treatment, which uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA standards.
Nearby plants