Mystic Harbour WWTP - West Ocean City, Maryland Wastewater Treatment

Mystic Harbour WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving West Ocean City, a community in Worcester County, Maryland, on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay region. The plant serves a population of about 3,000 and has a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day, reflecting its role in a small coastal community. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is typically required, with additional nutrient removal standards in sensitive coastal areas to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The plant's treated effluent ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the coastal bays and inlets of Maryland's eastern shore. The region supports diverse aquatic life, including shellfish and migratory fish, and is part of the larger Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, which is ecologically sensitive to nutrient pollution and requires careful wastewater management.

The plant discharges into the coastal watershed of the Atlantic Ocean, likely via the St. Martin River or nearby coastal bays that connect to the ocean. This area is part of the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin, a large estuary system that supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass. The proximity to the coast (within 50 km) means that nutrient and pathogen removal are critical to protect marine habitats and recreational waters.