The Town of Pikeville’s sewage treatment plant has received another violation notice from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) due to elevated E. coli levels in the Sequatchie River, indicating a risk to recreational activities. TDEC has mandated that Pikeville post warning signs at all reasonable approaches and access points to the river by next week, alerting the public to potential sanitary sewage exposure.

The town must also begin weekly E. coli sampling upstream and downstream of the plant’s discharge point until levels normalize, using approved microbiological methods. Mayor Philip Cagle is required to submit a written response by September 19, 2025, outlining specific actions and timelines to address the violations.

This follows a previous notice in July, to which Cagle responded by noting repairs to the aging plant’s clarifiers and ongoing construction of a new $20 million wastewater treatment facility. The violations, which stem from non-compliance with the town’s NPDES permit, may lead to civil penalties under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.