SHENANDOAH STP - Shenandoah, Virginia Wastewater Treatment Plant

SHENANDOAH STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Long Avenue in Shenandoah, Page County, Virginia. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,950 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment facility within the Shenandoah Valley region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 946.35 thousand cubic meters per year and an actual discharge volume of 567.81 thousand cubic meters, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a U.S. facility, it operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into a receiving water body that ultimately drains into the Shenandoah River, a major tributary of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant river system, which supports diverse aquatic life and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Shenandoah River, part of the Potomac River basin. The Shenandoah River is a vital waterway in Virginia, supporting diverse fish populations and providing habitat for migratory species. Downstream, the river joins the Potomac and empties into the Chesapeake Bay, a large estuary that is ecologically sensitive to nutrient pollution. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic matter and suspended solids, contributing to the health of this watershed.