Overview
Conococheague WWTP serves Washington County, Maryland, treating wastewater for approximately 11,423 people. The plant discharges into the local watershed, ultimately draining to the Chesapeake Bay.
Conococheague WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Washington County, Maryland, United States. It serves a population of around 11,423 residents, operating as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the coast, and its treated effluent is discharged into the Conococheague Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, Conococheague WWTP is subject to the U.S. Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. Facilities of this scale typically employ secondary treatment or better to meet water quality standards. The plant's design capacity and operational status are not publicly available, but regulatory compliance is enforced through state and federal oversight. The receiving water body, Conococheague Creek, flows into the Potomac River, which ultimately drains to the Chesapeake Bay. This estuarine ecosystem is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a critical habitat for migratory fish and bird species. The plant's discharge quality directly influences the health of this downstream environment, making nutrient removal and pollutant control important operational priorities.
Environmental context
Conococheague WWTP discharges into Conococheague Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and supports a complex ecosystem of fish, shellfish, and waterfowl. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia, so the plant's treatment performance is important for maintaining water quality in this sensitive watershed.
Frequently asked questions
Conococheague WWTP is located on Elliott Parkway in Washington County, Maryland, United States.
The plant serves approximately 11,423 residents in the Washington County area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into Conococheague Creek, which flows into the Potomac River and ultimately reaches the Chesapeake Bay.
As a U.S. facility, Conococheague WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment, which sets discharge limits to protect water quality.
Plants of this size in Maryland typically provide secondary treatment as a minimum, and may include nutrient removal to meet Chesapeake Bay restoration goals.
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