Overview
Tolchester WWTP is a secondary treatment plant in Georgetown, Maryland, serving about 1,467 people. It discharges treated wastewater near the Chesapeake Bay, a major estuary on the U.S. East Coast.
Tolchester WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Georgetown, Kent County, Maryland, United States. The plant serves a small population of approximately 1,467 residents and operates as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure along the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of about 1,003 million gallons per day and an average discharge volume of 409 million gallons per day, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a U.S. facility, it is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem supports diverse aquatic life, including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. The plant's location within 10 km of the coast underscores the importance of effective nutrient removal to protect the bay's water quality and ecological health.
Environmental context
Tolchester WWTP discharges into the Chesapeake Bay watershed, a vast estuary system that drains parts of six states. The bay is ecologically sensitive, supporting critical habitats for fish, shellfish, and waterfowl. Nutrient pollution from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia, making advanced treatment important for downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Tolchester WWTP is located at 10298 Bay Shore Road, Georgetown, Kent County, Maryland, United States.
The plant serves approximately 1,467 people in the Georgetown area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that drain into the Chesapeake Bay, a major estuary on the Atlantic coast.
Tolchester WWTP provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities.
As a U.S. facility, Tolchester WWTP operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets limits on pollutant discharges to protect water quality.
Nearby plants