Elizabethville STP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington Township, Pennsylvania

Elizabethville STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Washington Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The plant serves a population of about 2,925 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment facility within the state's wastewater infrastructure. As a U.S. plant, Elizabethville STP operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The plant's design capacity and discharge volume are not publicly reported, but regulatory compliance is expected under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local waterway within the Susquehanna River basin, which ultimately flows into the Chesapeake Bay. This downstream connection places the plant within a watershed of significant ecological importance, as the Chesapeake Bay supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical habitat for migratory species.

The treated effluent from Elizabethville STP enters a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which flows southward into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, supporting a rich ecosystem of fish, shellfish, and waterfowl. Nutrient loading from wastewater discharges is a key concern in this watershed, as excess nitrogen and phosphorus can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxic zones. The plant's location inland, over 50 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact but still influences the bay's health through its riverine discharge.