Stanley STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alma, Virginia

Stanley STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Alma, Page County, Virginia, United States. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,839 residents, placing it in the small community category under U.S. EPA guidelines. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 thousand cubic meters and an annual discharge volume of 946.35 thousand cubic meters, the plant operates below 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 local waterway within the Shenandoah River watershed, which ultimately drains into the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. The plant plays a role in protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically significant region, which supports diverse aquatic life and recreational activities.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Shenandoah River, which flows into the Potomac River and then the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary that supports critical habitats for fish, crabs, and migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, contributing to the health of this sensitive watershed.