Jefferson WWTP - Burgee, Maryland | Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant

Jefferson WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Burgee, Frederick County, Maryland, United States. It serves a population of approximately 2,209 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment plant under the US Clean Water Act framework. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 423.97 million gallons per year, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a US plant, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Potomac River, a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, contributing to the restoration of the bay's health.

The plant discharges into local waterways that flow into the Potomac River, which ultimately drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and supports a rich ecosystem, including blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass. Nutrient pollution from wastewater is a key concern in this watershed, and advanced treatment helps mitigate eutrophication and hypoxia in the bay.