SHADE GAP AREA JOINT MUN AUTH Wastewater Treatment Plant, Dublin Township, Pennsylvania

SHADE GAP AREA JOINT MUN AUTH is a wastewater treatment plant located in Dublin Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It serves a small population of 321 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal areas, and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the US EPA for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 246.05 volume units and an actual discharge volume of 155.20 volume units, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. As a small-scale plant, it is subject to state-level NPDES permits that ensure compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Susquehanna River basin, which ultimately drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and contributes to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, a region known for its diverse aquatic life and migratory bird populations.

The plant discharges into a local water body within the Susquehanna River basin, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay supports a rich ecosystem including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish such as striped bass. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads, which is critical for mitigating eutrophication and hypoxia in the bay.