Overview
Ocean County UA Central WPCF CS_STP serves over 362,000 people in Berkeley Township, New Jersey. The facility is part of the regional wastewater infrastructure discharging into the Atlantic coastal watershed.
Ocean County UA Central WPCF CS_STP is a major wastewater treatment facility located in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, serving a population of approximately 362,479. As a central plant in Ocean County, it handles municipal wastewater from a densely populated coastal region. The plant operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for discharges. For a facility serving over 150,000 people, advanced treatment is typically expected to protect sensitive coastal waters. The designed capacity is 1.00 (likely million gallons per day), indicating a large-scale operation. The treated effluent is discharged into the Barnegat Bay watershed, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. This coastal ecosystem supports diverse marine life, including shellfish beds and finfish, and is an important recreational and ecological resource. The plant's performance directly affects water quality in the bay and downstream coastal waters.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor estuary, a shallow coastal lagoon system connected to the Atlantic Ocean via Barnegat Inlet. This watershed supports eelgrass beds, shellfish populations, and migratory birds. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia, making advanced treatment important for maintaining ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 501 Hickory Lane, Bayville, Berkeley Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States.
The plant serves a population of approximately 362,479 people.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Barnegat Bay watershed, which ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The plant operates under the Clean Water Act, requiring an NPDES permit issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. For a facility of this scale, advanced treatment is typically required to protect sensitive coastal waters.
Plants serving over 350,000 people in the U. S. typically employ advanced secondary or tertiary treatment to meet stringent nutrient removal standards, especially in coastal areas like New Jersey where nitrogen and phosphorus control are critical to prevent eutrophication.
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