Overview
HEMPFIELD TWP MA DARRAGH STP serves approximately 9,700 residents in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways under the US Clean Water Act framework.
HEMPFIELD TWP MA DARRAGH STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It serves a population of about 9,700 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category for US facilities. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal waters, and its operations are part of the region's water infrastructure. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, which involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. Regulatory standards ensure compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into a local stream that flows into the greater Ohio River watershed, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This discharge supports the ecological health of the receiving water body, which provides habitat for aquatic life and contributes to regional water quality. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream environments from untreated wastewater.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Ohio River basin, which drains into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish and macroinvertebrate communities. The plant's effluent must meet state and federal water quality standards to protect these downstream habitats from nutrient pollution and pathogens.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, near the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass in Grapeville.
The plant serves approximately 9,677 residents, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under US wastewater treatment categories.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local stream that is part of the Ohio River watershed, eventually reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), which set effluent limits for pollutants.
For a plant of this size, secondary treatment is standard, involving biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, as required by the Clean Water Act.
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