Overview
Pennington Gap STP serves the town of Pennington Gap, Virginia, USA. The plant treats wastewater for a population of 3,614 and discharges into local waterways.
Pennington Gap STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Pennington Gap, Lee County, Virginia. The facility serves a population of approximately 3,614 residents, providing essential sanitation services for this small Appalachian community. As a US-based plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, Pennington Gap STP operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local streams that are part of the Tennessee River watershed. This region features karst topography and sensitive aquatic ecosystems, making proper wastewater treatment critical for protecting downstream water quality and biodiversity.
Environmental context
Pennington Gap STP discharges into tributaries of the Powell River, which flows into the Tennessee River and ultimately the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding Appalachian region supports diverse aquatic life, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish. The karst geology in the area means groundwater and surface water are closely connected, requiring careful management to prevent contamination.
Frequently asked questions
Pennington Gap STP is located on US 421 in Pennington Gap, Lee County, Virginia, United States.
The plant serves a population of 3,614 residents in the Pennington Gap area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that are part of the Powell River watershed, which flows into the Tennessee River.
As a US wastewater facility, Pennington Gap STP operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Small US plants serving fewer than 10,000 people typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or lagoon systems to meet EPA effluent standards.
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