Charlton Water and Sewer Commission Wastewater Treatment Plant, Massachusetts

The Charlton Water and Sewer Commission operates a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Charlton, Massachusetts, serving a population of approximately 1,343 residents. The facility is located in Worcester County, about 15 miles southwest of Worcester, and treats wastewater from the Charlton City area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this scale. With a designed capacity of 567.81 m³/day and an average daily discharge of 378.54 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a small agglomeration, it is subject to EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The treated effluent is discharged to a receiving water body that ultimately drains into the Quinebaug River, a tributary of the Thames River basin, which flows into Long Island Sound. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational and ecological value to the region.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed the Quinebaug River, part of the Thames River basin draining into Long Island Sound. This watershed supports coldwater fisheries and migratory fish species. The region's forests and wetlands help maintain water quality, but the plant's secondary treatment ensures nutrient and pathogen removal to protect downstream ecosystems.