Cecilton WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Cecilton, Maryland

Cecilton WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cecilton, a small town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 475 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level that removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 378.54 thousand cubic meters, with an actual discharge volume of 227.13 thousand cubic meters annually. As a small facility, it meets the treatment expectations for its population tier under U.S. regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and an ecologically significant ecosystem, supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. The plant's discharge contributes to the nutrient and pollutant load in the bay, making its treatment performance important for regional water quality.

Cecilton WWTP discharges into tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The bay supports a rich ecosystem of fish, crabs, and waterfowl, but is sensitive to nutrient pollution from wastewater. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic load, but nutrient removal is limited, which is a concern for the bay's health. Downstream, the bay connects to the Atlantic Ocean, making the plant's discharge part of a larger coastal drainage system.