On July 8, 2025, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) sent a violation notice to Pikeville’s Mayor Philip Cagle about the Pikeville Sewage Treatment Plant.

Inspections in June 2025 found several issues: the plant didn’t submit required monthly reports since January, had excessive pollutants like E. Coli, low oxygen levels, high chlorine, and high ammonia in its wastewater, and had operational problems like broken clarifiers, floating solids, and a blocked river downstream.

The plant also failed to report sludge disposal since 2021 and lacked proper monitoring equipment. TDEC requires a response with fixes within 30 days and all missing reports by July 15, 2025.