Ocean Beach V STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Town of Islip, New York

Ocean Beach V STP is a wastewater treatment facility located in the Village of Ocean Beach, Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York. The plant serves a population of 4,638 and operates with secondary treatment, a standard level for coastal communities in the United States under the Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,892.70 thousand cubic meters and an annual discharge volume of 866.86 thousand cubic meters. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's operation is subject to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant is situated within 10 km of the Atlantic Ocean, making its discharge potentially impactful on coastal waters. The treated effluent likely enters the Great South Bay or nearby coastal waters, which support diverse marine life and are important for recreation and fisheries. The plant's location on a barrier island underscores the need for effective treatment to protect sensitive estuarine ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Great South Bay, a shallow estuary along the south shore of Long Island, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean through inlets. The bay supports shellfish beds, finfish, and migratory birds, and is ecologically sensitive due to its limited tidal exchange. Effective secondary treatment is critical to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain water quality in this coastal ecosystem.