Buffalo Township Mazeppa STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Pennsylvania

Buffalo Township Mazeppa STP is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania, United States. The plant serves a small population of 305 residents, providing essential wastewater treatment for the local community. The plant operates with advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 189.27 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 140.06 million gallons per year, the facility operates below its capacity. As a US plant, it is subject to the Clean Water Act and likely operates under an NPDES permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring compliance with federal and state water quality standards. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into a local water body, which ultimately drains into the Susquehanna River basin and then into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary that supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical habitat for migratory birds and fish. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could contribute to eutrophication in the bay.

The plant's discharge enters a local stream that flows into the West Branch Susquehanna River, a major tributary of the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River drains into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic species including blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass. Nutrient pollution from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia in the bay, making advanced treatment important for protecting downstream water quality.