New Kensington STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania

New Kensington STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Logans Ferry Road in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The plant serves a population of about 34,742 residents in the New Kensington area, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under US regulatory frameworks. As a US facility, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program established by the Clean Water Act. This program sets discharge limits and monitoring requirements to protect water quality. For plants serving populations of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required as the minimum standard, with additional nutrient removal if discharging to sensitive waters. The plant's treated effluent discharges into the local watershed, which ultimately drains to the Allegheny River, a major tributary of the Ohio River. The Allegheny River supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. Proper treatment at this facility helps maintain water quality in this important regional waterway.

The plant discharges into the Allegheny River basin, which flows into the Ohio River and eventually the Mississippi River system. The Allegheny River supports a variety of fish species and is an important migratory corridor for aquatic life. The watershed includes urban and industrial areas, making effective wastewater treatment critical to preventing nutrient pollution and protecting downstream ecosystems.