SWATARA TWP AUTH, Swatara Township

Overview

SWATARA TWP AUTH serves approximately 77,000 people in Swatara Township, Pennsylvania. The plant operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act framework, discharging treated wastewater to local waterways.

SWATARA TWP AUTH is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Serving a population of around 77,000, it is a medium-to-large facility within the Susquehanna River basin. As a U. S. plant of this scale, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality, and secondary treatment is typically required for municipal plants. The plant's treated effluent discharges into local streams that flow into the Susquehanna River, which ultimately reaches the Chesapeake Bay. This makes the plant part of a larger effort to reduce nutrient and sediment loads to the bay, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Susquehanna River, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The bay is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic species and important fisheries. Nutrient pollution from wastewater is a key concern, and plants in this watershed often implement enhanced treatment to meet Chesapeake Bay restoration goals.

Frequently asked questions

SWATARA TWP AUTH is located at 8698 Paxton Street in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States.

The plant serves approximately 77,063 people in Swatara Township and surrounding areas.

The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that are part of the Susquehanna River watershed, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

As a U. S. municipal wastewater plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Plants of this size in Pennsylvania typically provide secondary treatment, and may include nutrient removal to meet Chesapeake Bay watershed requirements.