The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has issued a formal violation notice to Pikeville’s wastewater treatment plant after a July inspection uncovered a range of serious issues.
According to the agency’s report, treated effluent showed dangerous E. coli levels—more than double the legal limit. Inspectors also found low dissolved oxygen, high ammonia and chlorine levels, and cloudy discharge with visible solids. Clarifiers were down, aeration units were discolored, and floating sludge was spotted throughout the plant.
A downstream logjam in the Sequatchie River was also noted as a concern, possibly trapping solids and obstructing flow.
Mayor Philip Cagle said he was unaware of the state’s inspection until after it was completed. “If there’s a problem with our wastewater treatment plant, I want to know immediately and I did not get contacted at all,” Cagle said. News sources report that TDEC was in contact with the facility throughout the test.
TDEC has requested a formal correction plan by August 8.
All that being said, Cagle says Pikeville is moving ahead with plans for a new $18 million wastewater treatment facility, a major upgrade from the city’s aging 1950s-era plant. The new plant is expected to be up and running by September 2026.
