WINGO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wingo, Kentucky

The WINGO wastewater treatment plant is located in Wingo, Graves County, Kentucky, serving a small community of 698 residents. As a municipal facility in the United States, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, typically administered by the Kentucky Division of Water. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. Advanced treatment often includes nutrient removal or other processes to meet more stringent water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 340.69 units and a current discharge volume of 264.98 units, indicating it operates below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The facility plays a role in protecting water quality in the region, particularly given the agricultural landscape of western Kentucky, where nutrient runoff can be a concern.

The WINGO plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Mississippi River watershed, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This region is ecologically significant as it contributes to the Mississippi River basin, a major migratory corridor for birds and aquatic species. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical for mitigating hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.