In Martin County there are two public wastewater systems; 

• The Inez Wastewater Treatment Plant serves the county seat. It was first built in 1989, upgraded in 2011, and currently is struggling to meet permit requirements.. When in full operation, this wastewater system is a powerhouse, designed and engineered to treat 26 million gallons per day. Nevertheless, it has not been able to fully operate at the level that is needed to provide wastewater treatment for all households within the water district zones it serves. As of April 2025, the Inez Wastewater Treatment Plant operated at a mere 13 million gallons per day, or half of its capacity. The management of the Inez Wastewater Treatment Plant has been focusing towards transparency, more this year than in previous years, aiming to inform residents about operational challenges and improvements of the wastewater systems. There is still much progress to be made. 

•  The Tug Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant is located in the eastern part of Martin County, serving the communities of Lovely and Warfield, along with the county’s public housing complexes at Riverside and Dempsey.  The Tug Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant is designed for 26 million gallons per day, but only operates at 1 million gallons per day (as of April 2025). 

Both wastewater systems in Martin County serve around 870-900 water customers (households, housing complexes, local businesses), which adds up to about 2,100 residents. This figure varies from month to month, as residents across the county tend to periodically connect and disconnect from city wastewater systems. In an attempt to boost the customer base of these two public wastewater systems, the state made it mandatory for households to connect when city sewer lines are readily available to them. An increased customer base means more revenues for maintaining and upgrading these systems, while also reducing costs for all wastewater customers. 

Sources:

Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, WRIS System Data: Wastewater Systems in Martin County. 

Martin County Water and Sanitation Districts (MCWSD), MCSD Ordinance.

US Census Bureau (2022). Martin County, Kentucky. 

The Martin County Sanitation District (MCS), a local government entity, which is managed by a Board of Directors and holds its meetings at the Martin County Government Center, operates Martin County’s public wastewater systems. 

Since 2020, the MCS District and the Martin County Water District are run by Alliance Water Resources, a utility management company that collaborates with communities and focuses on technical operations, management and financial oversight. Its stated goal is to provide water and wastewater services that meet regulatory standards. The contract between MCS and Alliance has been extended until December 31, 2029.

Since January 2025, the MCS District has partnered with Prime AE., a company that collaborates with towns and private clients and provides various services related to wastewater, including planning, design, construction of wastewater facilities and wastewater disposal.    

Day-to-day operations of the MCS District include administrative duties, treating wastewater, and maintaining the collection system. Additional responsibilities involve fixing problems with wastewater lines, repairing grinders or other equipment, and resolving issues at lift stations, making choices about the disinfection methods, or selecting from sanitation options among others. 

Sources:

Martin County Water and Sanitation Districts, Sanitation Rules and Regulations for Service. 

Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, WRIS System DataWater Resource Information System Data.

Prime AE, “Water Markets: Wasterwater”.

Martin County’s sanitation and wastewater systems face significant challenges.  According to Martin County Sanitation District, public wastewater infrastructures are in a poor state, old and largely inadequate and outdated. This is largely due to limited funding and environmental challenges related to frequent floodings, the mountainous terrain, as well as the imprints of mining on the landscape, the ecosystem and the local economy. It is widely recognized that the county’s public wastewater systems require financial support and many Capital Improvement Projects. The shortage of funds, for so many years now, has made it increasingly expensive to maintain these wastewater systems and has been undermining, increasingly each year, their financial stability. 

Below are few of the key challenges facing Martin County’s two wastewater systems: 

• Difficulty meeting state discharge standards.

• Wastewater infrastructure in need of repairs and upgrades.

• Lack of revenue for new or upgraded equipment and trucks.

• Rising costs for wastewater services.

Sources:

Martin County Water and Sanitation Districts, Kentucky, https://mcub.myruralwater.com/. 

Taylor B., McNeeley S., Gaglia-Bareli M., Landes L., Schlichting L., Thompson D., Will R., 2024. Water and Climate Equity in Rural Water Systems in the United States, Pacific Institute, Oakland, California.

Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center (ACLC), Martin County Concerned  Citizens (MCCC), 2019. Drinking Water Affordability Crisis. Martin County, Kentucky Report.

Appalachian Citizens' Law Center (ACLC), 2023. Drinking Water Affordability in Kentucky. 

Wastewater is used water, regardless of who used it and for what purpose;  household needs, agriculture, mining, electricity generation, or for other human activities. Wastewater carries a variety of substances, like chemicals, oils, heavy metals, household waste etc. What wastewater carries has a lot to do with its source and the water use. For example, wastewater coming from residences and local businesses, also known as sewage (also known as black water), is quite different from the wastewater coming from mining.

Typically, sewage contains human waste, food scraps, soaps and other detergents. It is usually rich in organic matter and nutrients, as well as in chemical substances. Another subcategory of sewage is graywater. This is wastewater originating from domestic and commercial activities (e.g. showers, sinks and laundry), but not including human or toilet waste. Greywater is generally considered suitable for recycling and reuse in non-potable applications. 

Wastewater coming from industrial sources (industrial wastewater) can carry harmful chemicals and heavy metals. Also wastewater flowing off rooftops, roads and parking areas (stormwater runoff) can carry harmful chemicals and a variety of contaminants, like organic matter and pathogens. Therefore, although we tend to think that the rain that pours down and flows into our sewage systems and into the streams is  pure, there is a good chance that it is not.

Treating wastewater -industrial wastewater, sewage, greywater or any of its subcategories, is about caring deeply about our own health, environment and quality of life. It is also about caring for the health, environment and quality of life of our children’s children and all future generations. 

The main purpose of wastewater treatment is to minimize fine particles of sediment (suspended solids) and harmful chemicals to a level nature can handle, while also disinfecting the wastewater by removing contaminants and harmful pathogens before it is released back into rivers or streams, or reused for irrigation or for industrial purposes. A wastewater system that functions properly is crucial for preventing the contamination of water sources, harm to aquatic life and the spread of waterborne diseases. It is also crucial for ensuring the sustainability of water supplies and the well-being and prosperity of communities and local economies.

Wastewater is a broad term that encompasses all types of wastewater, including domestic, industrial, and stormwater sources. Sewage, on the other hand, is a subset of wastewater that is generated from residential and commercial establishments. 

Sources:

US Geological Survey, "Wastewater Treatment Water Use". In Water Science School.

Cabral JP., “Water microbiology. Bacterial pathogens and water”, in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2010 October, Vol. 7, Issue 10, pp. 657-703. 

Charles P. Gerba P.C. and, Pepper, L.I, 2015. “Municipal Wastewater Treatment” in Peper I.L., Gerba P.C. and Gentry J.T. (Eds). Environmental Microbiology (Third Edition), Academic Press, pp. 583-606. 

Başak Kılıç Taşeli (Ed.), 2023. Sewage Management. (2023). IntechOpen eBooks. 

Wastewater is sent to the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for processing to ensure it can be reused and it is safe for the watershed and the environment. In Martin County there are two WWTPs, the Inez Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Tug Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Typically, the treatment process involves several stages, or levels of treatment; primary treatment, secondary, and sometimes tertiary treatment. At each level of treatment different types of contaminants are removed. In particular, primary treatment involves the removal of large solids, and secondary treatment aims to eliminate organic matter. Tertiary treatment methods may also be employed to further purify water. All water treatment stages or levels aim to ensure compliance with environmental standards. 

Depending on the uses of water, there are also different types of wastewater treatment. The Tug Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant handles wastewater at the primary and secondary level, while the Inez Wastewater Treatment Plant only handles greywater. Unlike primary treatment, which focuses on physical separation of solids, and secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to degrade organic matter, greywater treatment employs natural methods like sand filters. The Inez Wastewater Treatment Plant is in the process of becoming a primary treatment plant. This process is taking place in two phases. Phase one involves extensive updates to the facility, including equipment upgrades, structural improvements, the establishment of an internal lab for water testing, electrical updates, and compliance with state and federal regulations. Phase two will ensure the new systems operate effectively and test the treated water for environmental safety. Upon approval, the final phase will involve installing new wastewater lines to support a housing complex in the Debord area.

Sources:

Martin County Water and Sanitation Districts (MCWSD), Martin County Sanitation Board Packets. 

US Environmental Protection Agency, Water Recycling and Reuse: The Environmental Benefits. 

Ikumapayi, O. M., Laseinde, O. T., & Akinlabi, E. T. (2024). An overview of sustainable greywater treatment processes. E3S Web of Conferences, 552, 01047. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202455201047.

Graywater treatment involves the removal of organic waste, heavy metals, germs and other microorganisms and aims at ensuring that it is safe to reuse water for non-drinking purposes, like water plants, flushing toilets, or for industrial uses. Graywater treatment techniques can be categorized into physical, chemical and biological. Often graywater treatment combines these techniques for achieving the desired water quality. 

Physical methods include filtration, which involves the removal of large particles and debris and it is the primary step in graywater treatment. Then comes sedimentation, through which heavy particles settle at the bottom of a tank. This technique can be enhanced using materials such as vermicompost and charcoal. Finally, the technique of aeration involves the introduction of air into the water, helping remove volatile compounds. 

Chemical methods involve adding chemicals to the water to bind small particles into bigger aggregates, thereby making it easier to remove them (coagulation and flocculation). Other chemicals and materials, like activated carbon, can also be used to capture organic compounds and other pollutants from water.

Biological methods consist of biofilm systems that utilize microorganisms to break down organic material, membrane bioreactors (MBR) that merge biological treatment with membrane filtration, and anaerobic and aerobic processes that transform organic matter into simpler compounds. The selection of a treatment system is influenced by factors such as the scale of treatment, cost, and the intended reuse of the treated water.

Using graywater has significant benefits in saving water and addressing water shortages. But, it can also present challenges. The composition of greywater can change greatly depending on household, commercial, and industrial activities, as well as the various chemicals used in these activities, complicating the treatment process. Therefore, managing graywater systems effectively requires constant monitoring of the water released back into the environment.

Sources:

Ikumapayi, Omolayo M., Opeyeolu Timothy Laseinde, and Esther T. Akinlabi. “An Overview of Sustainable Greywater Treatment Processes.” E3S Web of Conferences 552 (January 1, 2024): 01047.

Oteng-Peprah M, Acheampong MA, de Vries NK. “Greywater Characteristics, Treatment Systems, Reuse Strategies and User Perception-a Review”. Water Air Soil Pollution. 2018, Vol. 229, Issue 8, pp. 255. 

Primary treatment involves removing material such as wood, rocks or even deceased animals, using screens and settling tanks. This phase is crucial, because solids account for about 35 percent of the contaminants typically found in water. 

Following the screening phase, wastewater is transferred to aeration tanks (pumping). Gravity then takes over, moving the wastewater through the treatment process; water is directed into settling tanks (or clarifiers), where it sits for several hours, allowing the sludge, which is the organic portion of sewage, to settle. It also allows scum (lighter materials like grease, oil, plastics and soap) to rise to the surface. The scum is then skimmed off the top, the sludge is extracted from the bottom, and the partially treated wastewater proceeds to the secondary treatment stage. 

The primary treatment usually eliminates a considerable amount of harmful substances from wastewater; up to 50 percent of substances that use up the oxygen in the water (the Biological Oxygen Demand), about 90 percent of suspended solids, and up to 55 percent of fecal coliforms. Nevertheless, the primary treatment alone is not sufficient to guarantee the elimination of all harmful pollutants.

Sources:

U.S. ​​Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Wastewater.

Safe Drinking Water Foundation, Water Treatment. 

Secondary treatment is a vital wastewater process that reduces organic pollutants by providing oxygen to bacteria, which metabolize waste and lower Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). Typically, it involves the technique of aeration and sedimentation.  Aeration begins with the stirring of sewage, to restore oxygen levels of decaying organic matter and help bacteria digest microorganisms and pollutants. This action releases some of the dissolved gasses (like hydrogen sulfide, which has a rotten egg odor) from water. Wastewater then flows into a series of concrete, long, parallel tanks, where sedimentation takes place, separating treated water from excess sludge. In these tanks, the sludge settles again, making the water 90 to 95 percent free of pollutants.

Each tank is split into two parts. In the first part, air is pumped through the water, keeping organic matter afloat, while allowing small heavy particles, such as coffee grounds and sand (“the grit”), to settle. The grit is then pumped out from the tanks and sent to landfills. In the second section of these tanks, more sludge is removed. Additional sludge can be separated using a centrifuge, which spins rapidly to separate liquid from solid. The liquid can then be processed with the wastewater.

In the final step of the secondary treatment chlorine is added into the 'chlorine contact' tanks, to eliminate harmful bacteria that could harm human health. Occasionally, chlorine needs to be neutralized by adding other chemicals before releasing the effluent (treated water) into a water source. 

Solid waste from the primary and secondary treatment stages are kept in large, heated and sealed tanks, known as the ‘digesters’, for 20 to 30 days. In these tanks bacteria further break down the waste, reducing its size and odors, and eliminating harmful organisms, pathogens and other pollutants. The leftover material from this process, if not contaminated over certain levels, is sent to landfills, and sometimes it is used as fertilizer. 

Sources:

U.S. ​​Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Wastewater.

Safe Drinking Water Foundation, Water Treatment. 

Tertiary treatment, which is also referred as advanced treatment, further enhances the quality of the effluent before it is released back into the environment, or reused for non-potable purposes. This treatment stage focuses on the removal of dissolved contaminants, including organic compounds, heavy metals, and nutrients (e.g. phosphorus and nitrogen). It employs a range of physical, chemical and biological techniques to achieve high purification levels and compliance with regulatory standards. 

Key techniques of the tertiary treatment include advanced filtration (microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis), which helps separate fine particles and dissolved substances from the treated water, thereby improving water clarity and quality significantly. Another key method is chemical precipitation, where specific chemicals are added to facilitate the aggregation and removal of dissolved contaminants. This process is particularly effective in eliminating excess nutrients and heavy metals, thereby preventing their harmful effects on aquatic life and human health. In addition, techniques such as biofiltration and specialized microorganisms are used, thereby harnessing natural biological processes to effectively remove pollutants not otherwise removed, enhancing the efficiency of wastewater treatment. 

Sources:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Wastewater.

Safe Drinking Water Foundation, Water Treatment. 

If your household is not connected to a public wastewater or sewage treatment facility, you probably have a private septic system. Septic systems are standalone, decentralized wastewater treatment systems commonly used to manage household sewage in rural and suburban areas, where a public (centralized) sewer system is not available, or when the cost for wastewater services compared to household income is disproportionately high. In the U.S, more than one in five households rely on individual (decentralized) septic systems or small community systems to treat relatively low volumes of sewage. In Martin County, the exact percentage of households using private septic systems is unknown, yet it can be estimated to be over 80 percent. 

Sources

US Environmental Protection Agency,  Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual, February 2002. 

Septic systems operate based on a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes. The basic components of a septic system include a septic tank and a subsurface wastewater infiltration system, known as drainfield. Septic systems rely on anaerobic and aerobic processes to break down waste. 

The operating principles of septic systems are:

• Separation and settling: wastewater enters into the septic tank, where solids settle to the bottom, forming the sludge. Oils and grease float atop forming the scum. The middle layer, known as effluent, is relatively clear and flows out to the drainfield for further treatment and absorption into the soil. To ensure proper function of the septic system and prevent overflow, regular pumping is required to remove accumulated sludge and scum. 

• Anaerobic environment: the septic tank provides an anaerobic environment that is vital for the breakdown of organic matter. Anaerobic bacteria decompose the settled solids, thereby reducing the amount of sludge and producing methane and carbon dioxide. 

• Soil’s absorbing capacity: the soil determines the capacity of the septic system to transform and recycle pollutants, making it vital to be aware of the characteristics of the soil before choosing a septic system. 

Sources

Craig, E. J. “Sewage treatment system.” In FPO. US Patents, October 18, 2018. 

Moore, John E. “Septic Tank Systems.” In Water Encyclopedia, Wiley Online Library, April 15, 2005.

US Environmental Protection Agency,  Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual, February 2002.

Typically, your septic tank and drainfield are marked on the ‘as-built’ drawing for your property. Also look for lids or manhole covers for your septic tank. Older tanks can be difficult to locate since there are no visible components or risers. In that case, an inspector or plumber can help you locate any septic systems in your property.

You may also want to check local land records, or contact your local health department and environmental agencies to ask about any records they might be keeping on septic installations, or for advice on inspection and maintenance.

Sources:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  “About Septic System” and “Types of Septic Systems”. In Septic Systems.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Your Septic System is your responsibility”. In A Homeowner’s Guide to septic systems.

Septic systems that do not consist of regular septic tanks are known as alternative septic systems. These use diverse methods to treat sewage before safely returning it to nature. Each alternative septic system varies in equipment needed, cost, and maintenance requirements. For example, there are alternative septic systems that are using more or less electricity, and others that use no electricity; some are quite simple and cheap, while others use better quality materials and cost more. Before choosing an alternative septic system, be sure to have done your research.

Sources:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Types of Septic Systems. 

US Environmental Protection Agency,  Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual, February 2002. 

Some reasons that can lead households to consider using alternative septic systems include: 

• Challenging soils (like clay or overly sandy soils), which "won' t perk” —that is, cannot absorb and hold water. 

• Plots of land that are rocky or have bedrock, or land lacking sufficient topsoil needed to manage and dispose of wastewater. 

• Plots of land in steep areas, where a standard drainfield or sand bed cannot be installed.

• Wet areas, or locations close to water sources, where there is excessive groundwater, or areas prone to surface runoff.

• Areas experiencing water pollution. In such cases, alternative septic systems can be used to mitigate the risks of surface water contamination, thus safeguarding the health of your family and the environment.

• Alternative septic systems are also often considered for small plots of land, when there is no adequate space to install a conventional septic system. 

Sources:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,, Your septic system is your responsibility. In A Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “How to Care for Your Septic System.” In Care and Maintenance, Septic Systems. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Types of Septic Systems”. In Septic Systems.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual, February 2002.