BIG RUN BORO STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Henderson Township, Pennsylvania

BIG RUN BORO STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Henderson Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. The plant serves a population of 1,141 and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities of this scale. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's designed capacity is 416.39 thousand cubic meters per year, with an actual discharge volume of 302.83 thousand cubic meters per year, indicating it operates below its design capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves activated sludge or trickling filter systems. The plant is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway within the Ohio River basin, which ultimately drains to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's location inland and away from the coast reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall nutrient and pollutant load in the watershed, affecting downstream aquatic ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Ohio River, part of the larger Mississippi River basin that drains to the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. The region's mixed land use, including agriculture and industry, can contribute to nutrient pollution, making the plant's secondary treatment important for reducing organic loads and protecting downstream water quality.