Overview
Blue Hill WWTP is a secondary treatment plant serving 567 people in Blue Hill, Maine. It discharges 166.56 units of treated wastewater near the coast, with a design capacity of 378.54 units.
Blue Hill WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Blue Hill, Maine, United States. It serves a small population of 567 residents, reflecting the rural character of the coastal Hancock County community. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small agglomerations under the US Clean Water Act. The plant has a design capacity of 378.54 units and currently discharges 166.56 units of treated wastewater. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the minimum requirements for biological treatment of organic matter and suspended solids. Under the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), plants of this scale are typically permitted by state authorities, with discharge limits tailored to the receiving water body. The plant is located within 10 km of the coast, indicating its discharge likely reaches a tidal estuary or marine environment. The treated effluent enters local waters that drain into the Gulf of Maine, a productive marine ecosystem supporting fisheries, aquaculture, and diverse wildlife. The plant's operation helps protect water quality in this sensitive coastal zone.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local waters that flow into the Gulf of Maine, a semi-enclosed sea known for its high biological productivity and strong tidal mixing. The Gulf supports critical habitats for fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, including endangered species. Nutrient and pathogen control from secondary treatment is essential to prevent eutrophication and maintain shellfish harvesting areas in the region.
Frequently asked questions
Blue Hill WWTP is located at the Blue Hill Village Wharf Boat Launch on Water Street in Blue Hill, Hancock County, Maine, United States.
The plant serves a population of 567 people, typical of a small coastal community in Maine.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waters near the coast, which ultimately drain into the Gulf of Maine.
As a US facility, Blue Hill WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act, with discharge permits issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
Small plants serving around 600 people typically provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA standards for municipal wastewater.
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