Suffolk Co SCSD7 Medford W STP - North Bellport, New York Wastewater Treatment Plant

Suffolk Co SCSD7 Medford W STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in North Bellport, Suffolk County, New York. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,010 residents and operates as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure on Long Island. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for facilities of this scale under the U.S. Clean Water Act. With a designed capacity of 1,514.16 thousand cubic meters and an annual discharge volume of 972.85 thousand cubic meters, it operates below its design capacity. As a coastal plant within 10 km of the Atlantic Ocean, it is subject to additional regulatory scrutiny to protect marine water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This coastal environment supports diverse aquatic life, including shellfish and finfish, and is an important ecological and recreational resource for Long Island.

The plant discharges into the Great South Bay, a coastal lagoon on the south shore of Long Island, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean. This estuarine environment supports diverse marine life, including commercially important shellfish species, and is a critical habitat for migratory birds. The proximity to the coast necessitates careful management of nutrient and pathogen loads to prevent eutrophication and protect recreational waters.