Degregoire Park Treatment Wastewater Plant, Bar Harbor, Maine

Degregoire Park Treatment is a municipal wastewater facility located in Bar Harbor, Hancock County, Maine, United States. The plant serves a small population of 110 residents, reflecting its role as a local treatment facility for a limited service area. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 45.42 million gallons per day and an average discharge volume of 15.14 million gallons per day, the facility operates well below its capacity. As a US plant, it falls under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which regulate effluent limits and monitoring. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean. Given its coastal proximity, the plant plays a critical role in protecting the marine environment of Frenchman Bay and the Gulf of Maine, an ecologically productive area supporting diverse marine life and fisheries.

The plant discharges into the coastal waters of Frenchman Bay, part of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. This region supports a rich diversity of marine species, including groundfish, lobsters, and seabirds, and is an important area for commercial and recreational fishing. The proximity to the coast necessitates careful management of nutrient and pathogen loads to prevent eutrophication and protect shellfish habitats.