Cape May Regional STP - Lower Township, New Jersey Wastewater Treatment Plant

Cape May Regional STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Sunset Boulevard in Lower Township, Cape May County, New Jersey. The plant serves a population of about 48,757, placing it in the medium agglomeration category for US wastewater infrastructure. Its coastal proximity within 50 km of the Atlantic Ocean influences its operational and environmental considerations. 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 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is the federal minimum standard, though more advanced treatment may be required to protect sensitive coastal waters. The designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating the plant's physical infrastructure scale. The plant's treated effluent ultimately discharges into the Delaware River Basin or directly into Atlantic coastal waters, depending on the specific outfall location. The Cape May region is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a migratory corridor for fish and birds. Proper treatment is essential to protect downstream estuaries and marine habitats from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant's discharge likely enters the Delaware Bay or Atlantic Ocean via local tributaries. The Cape May area is part of the Delaware River Basin, which drains into the Delaware Bay and then the Atlantic Ocean. This coastal region supports critical habitats for fish, shellfish, and migratory birds, making nutrient and pathogen control vital for ecosystem health.