WARSAW Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sparta, Kentucky | US Clean Water Act

The WARSAW wastewater treatment plant is located in Sparta, Gallatin County, Kentucky, United States. It serves a population of approximately 3,200 people, classifying it as a small municipal facility. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 2,271.24 thousand cubic meters, with an actual discharge volume of 560.24 thousand cubic meters, indicating operational headroom. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the minimum federal requirement for municipal wastewater treatment. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Ohio River basin, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The plant's location inland, over 50 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact. Its operations help protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and support water quality in the region.

The plant discharges into a receiving water body within the Ohio River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This inland location supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The secondary treatment process reduces nutrient loads, helping to mitigate eutrophication risks in downstream waters.