Chopticon High School WWTP - Advanced Treatment in Morganza, Maryland

Chopticon High School WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Morganza, St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,844 people and operates with advanced treatment processes to ensure high-quality effluent. The facility has a designed capacity of 18.93 million gallons per day and currently discharges 3.79 million gallons per day. As an advanced treatment plant, it likely employs nutrient removal technologies to meet stringent Chesapeake Bay watershed requirements. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such facilities operate under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment. The plant's treated effluent ultimately drains into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay ecosystem is highly sensitive to nutrient pollution, and advanced treatment helps protect aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass. The facility plays a key role in regional water quality restoration efforts.

The plant discharges into the Potomac River basin, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay is a critical estuary supporting diverse marine life and migratory birds. Advanced treatment reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loads, helping to combat eutrophication and hypoxia in the Bay.