Moshannon Valley STP, Rush Township

Overview

Moshannon Valley STP serves Rush Township, Pennsylvania, treating wastewater for approximately 13,000 residents. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act framework, discharging treated effluent into local waterways.

Moshannon Valley STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Rush Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Serving a population of around 13,000, the facility is part of the region's wastewater infrastructure, managed under state and federal regulations. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities of this scale. NPDES permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection govern discharge limits and monitoring. Typical plants serving this population use activated sludge or similar biological treatment. Treated effluent from the plant discharges into a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River, which flows into the Susquehanna River and ultimately reaches the Chesapeake Bay. The plant plays a role in protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically significant watershed, which supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical habitat for migratory fish.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River, part of the larger Susquehanna River basin that drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic species including blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass. Nutrient and sediment loads from upstream sources are a key concern for bay health, making treatment plant performance important for downstream water quality.

Frequently asked questions

Moshannon Valley STP is located in Rush Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States.

The plant serves approximately 13,000 residents in the Rush Township area.

The plant discharges treated effluent into a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River, which flows into the Susquehanna River and eventually reaches the Chesapeake Bay.

The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection setting discharge limits and monitoring requirements.

Plants of this scale in Pennsylvania typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, meeting EPA standards for BOD and TSS removal.