Cambridge WWTF and Coll Sys - Maryland Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Cambridge WWTF and Coll Sys is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cambridge, Maryland, United States. It serves a population of about 14,722 people in the Dorchester County area. The plant is situated near the Chesapeake Bay, a major estuary on the Atlantic coast. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment. For a community of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, and the plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating it is sized for the local population. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. Protecting water quality in this watershed is critical for the bay's ecological health.

The Cambridge WWTF discharges into the Choptank River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a highly productive estuary that supports a wide range of species, including striped bass, blue crabs, and waterfowl. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia, making effective treatment essential for maintaining the bay's ecological balance.