Overview
Ocean Pines WWTP in Showell, Maryland serves 13,000 people. The plant is located within 50 km of the Atlantic coast and discharges into local waterways.
Ocean Pines WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving the Ocean Pines community in Showell, Worcester County, Maryland. The plant serves a population of approximately 13,000 residents and operates as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure on the Delmarva Peninsula. 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 a plant serving this population size, secondary treatment is typically required, with potential nutrient removal standards to protect sensitive coastal waters. The plant's treated effluent discharges into local streams that flow into the Atlantic Ocean via the coastal bays of Maryland. The region's watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a larger estuarine system important for fisheries and migratory birds.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean through Maryland's coastal bays, including the Isle of Wight Bay and Assawoman Bay. These waters are part of a sensitive coastal ecosystem that supports shellfish, finfish, and migratory waterfowl. Nutrient loading from wastewater is a key concern in this region due to the potential for eutrophication in the shallow, poorly flushed bays.
Frequently asked questions
Ocean Pines WWTP is located on Pitts Road in Showell, Worcester County, Maryland, United States.
The plant serves approximately 13,000 residents in the Ocean Pines community and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that flow into Maryland's coastal bays, ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
As a U.S. facility, Ocean Pines WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Plants of this size in Maryland typically require secondary treatment, and may also need advanced nutrient removal to meet Chesapeake Bay or coastal water quality standards.
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