Overview
Central Carbon Regional STP in Lehighton, Pennsylvania serves approximately 9,300 people. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed within the Delaware River Basin.
Central Carbon Regional STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The facility serves a population of about 9,300 residents in the region, operating as part of the area's essential water infrastructure. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, it operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act framework, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. These permits set effluent limits based on water quality standards to protect receiving waters. The plant's treated effluent enters the local watershed, which drains into the Lehigh River and ultimately the Delaware River. The Delaware River Basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions, making proper treatment critical for downstream communities and ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Lehigh River watershed, a tributary of the Delaware River. The Delaware River flows into Delaware Bay, an ecologically productive estuary. The basin supports migratory fish species such as American shad and provides habitat for freshwater mussels and other sensitive aquatic organisms.
Frequently asked questions
Central Carbon Regional STP is located on East Bridge Street in Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States.
The plant serves approximately 9,300 residents in the Lehighton area and surrounding Carbon County region.
The plant discharges into the Lehigh River watershed, which flows into the Delaware River. Proper treatment helps protect water quality in these rivers and downstream Delaware Bay.
As a municipal wastewater plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act and requires an NPDES permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The permit sets limits on pollutants to protect receiving water quality.
Plants of this size in Pennsylvania typically provide secondary treatment as a minimum, often including biological processes like activated sludge. Some may incorporate nutrient removal to meet Chesapeake Bay watershed goals.
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