Overview
Elkland Boro STP serves approximately 1,786 residents in Lawrence Township, Pennsylvania. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act's NPDES permit program.
Elkland Boro STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Lawrence Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. It serves a small community of about 1,786 people, typical of rural facilities in the northern Appalachian region. The plant is situated near the Army Corps of Engineers land, indicating potential proximity to flood control or reservoir infrastructure. As a US facility, Elkland Boro STP operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act. The plant's design capacity and treatment process details are not publicly available, but typical facilities of this scale use activated sludge or lagoon systems. The plant discharges into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Susquehanna River basin, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and important fisheries. The plant's operations contribute to protecting downstream water quality in this sensitive estuary.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which flows south through Pennsylvania and Maryland into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, supporting critical habitats for fish, crabs, and migratory birds. Nutrient loading from wastewater is a key concern in this watershed, making treatment performance important for downstream ecological health.
Frequently asked questions
Elkland Boro STP is located in Lawrence Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, near the Army Corps of Engineers land.
The plant serves approximately 1,786 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under US EPA guidelines.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local tributary that flows into the Susquehanna River, ultimately reaching the Chesapeake Bay.
The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Small plants in Pennsylvania typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge, trickling filters, or aerated lagoons to meet state and federal effluent standards.
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