Rising Sun STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in North Hills, Maryland

Rising Sun STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) is located on Conowingo Road in North Hills, Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,600 residents and operates with a designed capacity of 1,892.70 thousand gallons per day, with an average daily discharge of 810.08 thousand gallons. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. As a publicly owned treatment works (POTW), it operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment, ensuring compliance with effluent limits that protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which flows south into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. Nutrient removal from wastewater is critical to reducing eutrophication in the bay.

The plant discharges into the Susquehanna River watershed, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The bay is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life including blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass. Nutrient and sediment loads from wastewater contribute to eutrophication, making advanced treatment important for bay health.