Harrison Valley STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Harrison Township, Pennsylvania

Harrison Valley STP is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Harrison Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania. The plant serves a small community of approximately 700 residents, providing essential sanitation services in this rural area of the state. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 264.98 thousand gallons per day, it operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for all discharges. For small plants like this, permit limits typically ensure compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into a local stream that drains into the Susquehanna River basin, ultimately reaching the Chesapeake Bay. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, contributing to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, which is vital for aquatic life and migratory birds.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass. Nutrient pollution from wastewater is a key concern, and advanced treatment helps mitigate algal blooms and hypoxia in the bay.