Overview
McClure Municipal Authority Sewage Treatment Plant serves McClure, Pennsylvania with advanced treatment. The facility processes approximately 340,690 gallons daily, protecting local waterways in the Susquehanna River basin.
The McClure Municipal Authority Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is a wastewater facility serving the borough of McClure in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. With a population served of 994, this plant is classified as a small municipal system under U.S. EPA regulations. The facility is located at 103 Ulsh Gap Road, near Crossgrove, and operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the federal minimum of secondary treatment. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) or other processes to meet stringent water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 567,810 gallons per day and currently discharges an average of 340,690 gallons per day, indicating operational capacity below design levels. The treated effluent is discharged into a local stream that flows into the Susquehanna River watershed, ultimately reaching the Chesapeake Bay. As part of the Chesapeake Bay Program's nutrient reduction strategy, plants in this region often implement advanced treatment to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads. The facility plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and supporting regional water quality goals.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which flows south through Pennsylvania and Maryland before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and suffers from nutrient pollution that causes harmful algal blooms and hypoxic zones. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads, supporting the recovery of submerged aquatic vegetation and shellfish habitats in the bay.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 103 Ulsh Gap Road, near Crossgrove, in McClure, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States.
The plant serves a population of 994 people in the borough of McClure and surrounding areas.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local tributary that flows into the Susquehanna River, which ultimately reaches the Chesapeake Bay.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which exceeds the federal secondary treatment standard and typically includes nutrient removal to protect sensitive water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for all discharges. For small systems like this, permits set limits based on water quality standards, and advanced treatment helps meet Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction goals.
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