Overview
PAINTSVILLE STP serves the city of Paintsville, Kentucky, treating wastewater for approximately 4,355 residents. The plant operates under U.S. EPA and state regulations for municipal wastewater treatment.
PAINTSVILLE STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Paintsville, Kentucky, within Johnson County. The facility serves a population of about 4,355 people, making it a small-scale treatment operation in the Appalachian region of the United States. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. Kentucky's Division of Water issues NPDES permits to ensure compliance with state and federal standards for effluent quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local receiving water body, which ultimately drains into the Big Sandy River watershed. This river system flows into the Ohio River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River, supporting diverse aquatic life and regional water quality.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters a tributary of the Big Sandy River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse fish populations and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The region's Appalachian terrain and seasonal rainfall patterns influence runoff and stream flow, making proper treatment essential for protecting aquatic habitats.
Frequently asked questions
PAINTSVILLE STP is located at 142 Ponderosa Drive, Paintsville, Kentucky, in Johnson County, United States.
The plant serves approximately 4,355 residents in the Paintsville area.
The plant discharges into a local tributary that flows into the Big Sandy River, part of the Ohio River basin.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is subject to NPDES permits issued by the Kentucky Division of Water, which set limits on effluent quality to protect receiving waters.
Under the Clean Water Act, municipal plants of this size are required to provide at least secondary treatment, which removes about 85% of organic matter and suspended solids.
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