BENTON NICHOLSON STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Nicholson Township, Pennsylvania

BENTON NICHOLSON STP serves the community of Nicholson Township in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. This facility treats wastewater for a population of 704, operating as part of the region's municipal infrastructure. The plant is located near Pennsylvania Route 107, in a rural setting within the Susquehanna River basin. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the US Clean Water Act. Advanced treatment typically removes nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, reducing the environmental impact on receiving waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 605.66 volume units and discharges 416.40 volume units, indicating it operates below capacity. Treated effluent from the plant flows into local streams that drain into the Susquehanna River, which ultimately reaches the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary with significant ecological importance, supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive watershed.

The plant discharges into local tributaries of the Susquehanna River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a major estuary that supports a rich ecosystem, including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory waterfowl. Nutrient pollution from wastewater is a key concern in this watershed, and the plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads, contributing to the bay's restoration efforts.