GIRARD TWP STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Girard Township, Pennsylvania

GIRARD TWP STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. The facility serves a small population of 300 residents, providing essential wastewater treatment for this rural community in the Appalachian region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 113.56 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 75.71 megaliters, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a US facility, it operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways within the Susquehanna River basin, which ultimately drains to the Chesapeake Bay. The plant's operations help protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and contribute to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, a large and ecologically significant estuary on the US East Coast.

The plant discharges into small streams within the West Branch Susquehanna River watershed, which flows into the Susquehanna River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, supporting diverse aquatic life including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, contributing to the bay's restoration efforts.