Bowie State College STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Bowie State College STP is a wastewater treatment facility located in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland. It serves a population of approximately 3,857 people, primarily from the college campus and surrounding community. The plant is situated in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, an ecologically significant estuary system. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. It has a designed capacity of 757.08 thousand cubic meters per year and currently discharges 681.37 thousand cubic meters annually. As a US plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Patuxent River and then the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, supporting diverse aquatic life including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, contributing to the bay's restoration efforts.

The plant discharges into the Patuxent River basin, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay supports a complex ecosystem including submerged aquatic vegetation, oyster reefs, and critical habitats for migratory birds and fish. Advanced treatment at this facility helps minimize nutrient pollution, which is a key concern for the bay's health.