Trout Run WWTP and Coll Sys - Mountain Lake Park, Maryland Wastewater Treatment

Trout Run WWTP and Coll Sys is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Mountain Lake Park, Garrett County, Maryland. Serving a population of approximately 9,917, the plant is part of the region's essential water infrastructure, managing wastewater from the community and surrounding areas. Under the US Clean Water Act, the plant operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment. For a facility serving nearly 10,000 people, secondary treatment is typically required, with additional nutrient removal standards applicable in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The treated effluent from Trout Run WWTP is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Youghiogheny River, a tributary of the Monongahela River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into the Youghiogheny River watershed, which flows through the Appalachian region and supports diverse aquatic life, including trout and other cold-water species. The river eventually joins the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, contributing to the Mississippi River basin. Protecting this watershed is critical for maintaining water quality in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, as nutrient pollution from upstream sources can impact the bay's health.