Richlyn Manor WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Honeygo, Maryland

Richlyn Manor WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Honeygo, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The plant serves a small population of 738 residents and operates with secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size under the US Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 340.69 units and an average discharge volume of 193.06 units, indicating moderate utilization. As a secondary treatment facility, it removes organic matter and suspended solids before discharge, meeting typical NPDES permit requirements for inland and coastal plants in Maryland. The plant's treated effluent flows into the Gunpowder Falls watershed, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and important fisheries. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can influence downstream water quality and estuarine health.

Richlyn Manor WWTP discharges into the Gunpowder Falls watershed, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a major estuary that supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including spawning grounds for fish and habitat for blue crabs and oysters. The plant's coastal proximity means its nutrient and pollutant loads can affect bay water quality, contributing to algal blooms and hypoxia if not properly managed.