Erving WWTF No 1 - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hardwick, Massachusetts

Erving WWTF No 1 is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Wheelwright, Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts. The plant serves a small population of 237 residents and operates as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for most municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 151.42 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 37.85 million gallons per year, the plant operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Ware River, a tributary of the Chicopee River, which flows into the Connecticut River and then to Long Island Sound. The plant plays a role in protecting the water quality of these downstream ecosystems.

The plant's discharge enters a local stream that feeds into the Ware River, part of the Connecticut River watershed. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The Connecticut River flows into Long Island Sound, an ecologically important estuary. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and protect these water bodies.