Overview
SUNBURY STP serves approximately 25,425 people in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Susquehanna River basin, ultimately reaching the Chesapeake Bay.
SUNBURY STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on South Center Street in Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It serves a population of about 25,425 residents in the Sunbury area, operating as part of the region's public sanitation infrastructure. As a US-based facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, typically administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. For a community of this size, secondary treatment is standard, with possible nutrient removal requirements to protect downstream waters. The plant's treated effluent flows into the Susquehanna River, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and commercial fisheries. Nutrient discharges from treatment plants in this basin are closely regulated to mitigate eutrophication and hypoxia in the bay.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Susquehanna River, the longest river on the East Coast of the United States, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary that supports a complex ecosystem including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. Nutrient pollution from wastewater treatment plants is a key concern, as excess nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to algal blooms and dead zones in the bay.
Frequently asked questions
SUNBURY STP is located on South Center Street in Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States.
SUNBURY STP serves approximately 25,425 people in the Sunbury area.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Susquehanna River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
As a US municipal wastewater plant, SUNBURY STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, setting limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
For a population of about 25,000, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act. Many plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed also incorporate nutrient removal to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads.
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