Overview
Maryland Correctional Inst MCI serves 1,500 people in Roxbury, Maryland. The plant operates under U.S. Clean Water Act regulations for small-scale correctional facility wastewater treatment.
Maryland Correctional Inst MCI is a wastewater treatment plant located in Roxbury, Washington County, Maryland, serving a population of approximately 1,500. The facility supports the correctional institution's wastewater needs within the rural landscape of western Maryland. As a small-scale plant in the United States, it operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point source discharges. For facilities serving around 1,500 people, secondary treatment is typically mandated to meet effluent quality standards. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into a local stream or groundwater system within the Potomac River watershed, which ultimately drains to the Chesapeake Bay. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a larger estuarine ecosystem important for migratory fish and waterfowl.
Environmental context
The plant is situated in the Potomac River basin, with treated effluent likely entering a tributary that flows into the Potomac River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary that supports critical habitats for blue crabs, oysters, and migratory birds. Nutrient and pollutant control from small plants like this is important for maintaining bay water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Roxbury, Washington County, Maryland, United States, at coordinates 39.556000, -77.709000.
The plant serves approximately 1,500 people, primarily the correctional facility population and associated staff.
The treated effluent is likely discharged into a local stream or groundwater system within the Potomac River watershed, which flows to the Chesapeake Bay.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and requires an NPDES permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment, typically mandating secondary treatment for its size.
For small populations, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act, often using activated sludge or lagoon systems to meet effluent limits for BOD and TSS.
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