Fredericksburg SandW AUTH Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bethel Township, Pennsylvania

Fredericksburg SandW AUTH is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Bethel Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The plant serves a small population of 1,288 residents in the Fredericksburg area, operating under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the US EPA for most municipal facilities. With a design capacity of 1,639.08 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 378.54 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Susquehanna River basin and then to the Chesapeake Bay. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant watershed, which supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical habitat for migratory fish species.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic species and serving as a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, contributing to the bay's restoration efforts.