Overview
Cape Charles STP is an advanced wastewater treatment plant serving 1,811 people in Cape Charles, Virginia. It discharges 681.37 megaliters annually into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Cape Charles STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cape Charles, Virginia, on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The plant serves a small population of 1,811 residents and operates with advanced treatment capabilities, ensuring high-quality effluent discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 946.35 megaliters and currently treats 681.37 megaliters annually, indicating operational headroom. As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which sets strict effluent limits for nutrients and other pollutants to protect sensitive coastal waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The bay supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass, and is a critical migratory corridor for waterfowl. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, mitigating eutrophication risks in the bay.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is an ecologically sensitive estuary that supports extensive seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and fish nurseries. Nutrient pollution from wastewater can fuel harmful algal blooms, so advanced treatment at this facility plays a key role in maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
Cape Charles STP is located at Cape Charles Yacht Center on Bayshore Road in Cape Charles, Virginia, on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
The plant serves a population of 1,811 residents in the town of Cape Charles and surrounding areas.
Cape Charles STP provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, protecting sensitive coastal waters.
As a U.S. facility, Cape Charles STP operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which requires permits with strict effluent limits to protect water quality.
The plant discharges approximately 681.37 megaliters of treated wastewater annually into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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