Suffolk Co SCSD 9 College Park Wastewater Treatment Plant, Farmingville, New York

Suffolk Co SCSD 9 College Park is a wastewater treatment facility located in Farmingville, Suffolk County, New York. It serves a small population of 845 residents and operates as part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and discharges treated effluent into local waterways. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, ensuring a high level of pollutant removal. With a designed capacity of 340.69 units and a current discharge volume of 140.06 units, it operates well below its capacity. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which set strict effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated wastewater from the plant ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the South Shore Estuary and Great South Bay. This coastal ecosystem supports diverse aquatic life, including shellfish and migratory fish, making the plant's advanced treatment crucial for maintaining water quality and ecological health in the region.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the South Shore Estuary and Great South Bay, a shallow lagoon system along Long Island's south coast. This estuary is ecologically sensitive, supporting shellfish beds, finfish, and migratory birds. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical to prevent algal blooms and hypoxia in the bay, ultimately protecting the Atlantic Ocean coastal environment.