Hartleton Boro STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Hartleton, Pennsylvania

Hartleton Boro STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Orchard Road in Hartleton, Union County, Pennsylvania. The plant serves a small population of 187 residents, reflecting the rural character of the surrounding area in central Pennsylvania. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove additional pollutants such as nutrients. With a designed capacity of 37.85 megaliters per year and a discharge volume matching that figure, the facility is operating at full capacity. As a US plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Susquehanna River basin, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary of ecological significance, and nutrient removal from advanced treatment helps reduce the bay's nutrient load, supporting aquatic life and water quality.

The plant discharges into a local stream that is part of the Susquehanna River watershed. The Susquehanna River flows south through Pennsylvania and Maryland before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish, and is sensitive to nutrient pollution. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads, contributing to the bay's restoration goals.