Rutledge STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rutledge, Tennessee

Rutledge STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Rutledge, Grainger County, Tennessee. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,200 residents and operates as part of the region's water infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 492.10 m³/day and an average daily discharge of 302.83 m³/day, the facility operates below its maximum capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Tennessee River system. This river basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for communities downstream. Proper treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically important watershed.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Tennessee River, which flows through the Appalachian region and eventually reaches the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The Tennessee River watershed supports diverse aquatic species and provides habitat for fish and migratory birds. Effective secondary treatment reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.