Overview
Dahlgren Wastewater Plant in Dahlgren Center, Virginia, provides secondary treatment for 1,568 residents. It discharges 416.40 units of treated wastewater daily, with a designed capacity of 870.64 units.
The Dahlgren Wastewater Plant serves the community of Dahlgren Center in King George County, Virginia, United States. This facility provides secondary treatment for a population of 1,568, operating as part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant has a designed capacity of 870.64 units and currently treats a discharge volume of 416.40 units. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater plants to protect water quality. The plant is located within 10 km of the coast, indicating its discharge likely reaches tidal waters of the Potomac River or Chesapeake Bay. This proximity to sensitive estuarine environments underscores the importance of effective treatment to protect aquatic life and recreational uses downstream.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters a coastal watershed that drains into the Potomac River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. This ecosystem supports diverse aquatic species, including striped bass and blue crabs, and is a critical migratory corridor for waterfowl. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and hypoxia in the bay.
Frequently asked questions
Dahlgren Wastewater Plant is located at 16404 Dahlgren Road in Dahlgren Center, King George County, Virginia, United States.
The plant serves a population of 1,568 residents in the Dahlgren Center area.
The plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into nearby coastal waters, likely tributaries of the Potomac River that flow into the Chesapeake Bay.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
For small communities, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act, which requires removal of biodegradable organics and suspended solids to protect receiving waters.
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