Charles Town Tuscawilla WWTP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Charles Town, West Virginia

Charles Town Tuscawilla WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Charles Town, West Virginia, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,750 residents in the Jefferson County area, providing advanced treatment to protect local water quality. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 1,892.70 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 556.46 million gallons per year, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. The treated effluent is discharged into a receiving water body that ultimately drains into the Potomac River basin and then into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary of ecological significance, supporting diverse aquatic life and important fisheries. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, contributing to the restoration of the bay's health.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Potomac River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, supporting a rich ecosystem of fish, crabs, and waterfowl. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads, which are critical for controlling algal blooms and maintaining oxygen levels in the bay.