Cambridge Area STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania

The Cambridge Area STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cambridge Springs, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Serving a population of approximately 2,161, the plant provides advanced treatment to protect public health and the environment. As a small agglomeration, it plays a vital role in managing wastewater for this rural community in the northwestern part of the state. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, exceeding the secondary treatment standards required by the U.S. Clean Water Act. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 thousand gallons per day and a current discharge volume of 908.50 thousand gallons per day, it operates well within its capacity. The facility is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The treated effluent is discharged into a tributary of French Creek, which flows into the Allegheny River and eventually the Ohio River and Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish. The plant's advanced treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

The plant discharges into a tributary of French Creek, part of the Allegheny River basin, which drains into the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. French Creek is known for its high biodiversity, supporting over 80 species of fish and numerous freshwater mussels. The advanced treatment at this facility helps protect this important aquatic ecosystem from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.