Rawlings WWTP and Collection System - Secondary Treatment Plant in Rawlings, Maryland

Rawlings WWTP and Collection System is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Rawlings, Allegany County, Maryland, United States. The plant serves a small population of approximately 750 residents, providing secondary treatment to manage domestic wastewater from the community. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. With a designed capacity of 302.83 thousand cubic meters per year, the facility treats wastewater to secondary standards before discharge. As a small agglomeration, it meets the regulatory requirements for secondary treatment under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Potomac River watershed, ultimately reaching the Chesapeake Bay. The plant plays a role in protecting water quality in the region, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems in the bay.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the North Branch Potomac River, which flows into the Potomac River and then into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary that supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, contributing to the health of this ecologically sensitive watershed.