Rutledge Creek WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Amherst, Virginia

Rutledge Creek WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 506 Industrial Drive in Amherst, Virginia. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,600 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,271.24 million gallons per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 832.79 million gallons, indicating it operates well below its capacity. As a secondary treatment facility, it uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into Rutledge Creek, a tributary of the James River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The plant plays a role in protecting the water quality of the James River watershed and the downstream estuarine ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological and economic resource.

The plant discharges into Rutledge Creek, which flows into the James River and ultimately reaches the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and supports a rich ecosystem including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads that could contribute to eutrophication and hypoxia in the bay.