New London WPCF - Wastewater Treatment Plant in New London, Connecticut

New London Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in New London, Connecticut, serving a population of about 48,400. The facility is situated in the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and is part of the state's wastewater infrastructure. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, New London WPCF operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. The plant has a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day, and its treatment process is expected to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements set by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The treated effluent from New London WPCF is discharged into the Thames River, a major tidal river that flows south into Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound is an ecologically significant estuary that supports diverse marine life, including fish, shellfish, and migratory birds. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the Thames River and the Sound.

New London WPCF discharges into the Thames River, which flows into Long Island Sound, a large estuary that supports a rich ecosystem of fish, shellfish, and waterfowl. The Sound is a critical habitat for species such as winter flounder and American lobster, and its health is influenced by nutrient inputs from wastewater treatment plants. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its discharge can affect coastal water quality, particularly during low-flow conditions.