QUEENSTOWN WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Queenstown, Maryland

QUEENSTOWN WWTP serves the small community of Queenstown, Maryland, located on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The plant provides secondary treatment for a population of 617, operating under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for all municipal wastewater discharges. As a small facility, it is subject to state-level oversight by the Maryland Department of the Environment. The plant has a designed capacity of 757.08 units and currently treats an average daily flow of 238.48 units, indicating significant reserve capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA secondary treatment standards. The plant's discharge is regulated under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which sets effluent limits and monitoring requirements. The treated effluent from QUEENSTOWN WWTP ultimately reaches the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is an ecologically sensitive ecosystem that supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. Nutrient removal from wastewater is critical to reducing eutrophication and improving water quality in the Bay.

QUEENSTOWN WWTP discharges into local waterways that drain into the Chesapeake Bay, a major estuary on the Atlantic coast. The Bay watershed spans six states and supports a rich ecosystem, including submerged aquatic vegetation, fish nurseries, and migratory bird habitats. Nutrient pollution from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia, making effective treatment essential for Bay health.