Hulls Cove STP - Bar Harbor, Maine Wastewater Treatment Plant

Hulls Cove STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Hulls Cove neighborhood of Bar Harbor, Maine, on Mount Desert Island. The plant serves a small population of 527 residents and operates with a designed capacity of 704.08 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 586.74 cubic meters per day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities discharging to surface waters. As a small facility, it is subject to EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring compliance with water quality standards for the receiving waters. The treated effluent from Hulls Cove STP discharges into the coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine, specifically within Frenchman Bay. This area supports diverse marine life, including lobster, fish, and seabirds, and is part of a larger watershed that drains from Acadia National Park. The plant's coastal location requires careful management to protect sensitive estuarine habitats.

The plant discharges into the coastal waters of Frenchman Bay, which connects to the Gulf of Maine, a biologically productive sea. The local watershed includes streams from Mount Desert Island that flow into the bay, supporting eelgrass beds, shellfish, and migratory fish. The proximity to Acadia National Park adds ecological significance, as the area is a popular destination for tourism and wildlife observation.