Point Lookout State Park WWTP - Saint Mary's County, Maryland Wastewater Treatment

Point Lookout State Park WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Saint Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,770 and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level that removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,400.60 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 75.71 million gallons per year, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating ample headroom for current service levels. The treated effluent is discharged into the Chesapeake Bay watershed, a large and ecologically significant estuary. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can directly influence coastal water quality and the health of downstream marine habitats.

The plant discharges into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The bay supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to eutrophication, so the plant's secondary treatment helps reduce the impact on this sensitive ecosystem.