Tylerton WWTP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment on Smith Island, Maryland

Tylerton WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Tylerton, a small community on Smith Island in Somerset County, Maryland. The plant serves a population of 173 residents, providing advanced treatment to protect the sensitive coastal environment. As an advanced treatment plant, Tylerton WWTP goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. The plant has a designed capacity of 75.71 m³/day and currently discharges 22.71 m³/day of treated effluent. Under the US Clean Water Act, such facilities operate under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment, which set strict limits on effluent quality. The treated wastewater is discharged into the waters surrounding Smith Island, which ultimately drain into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life including blue crabs, oysters, and migratory fish. Advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading that can cause algal blooms and hypoxia in the bay.

Tylerton WWTP discharges into the coastal waters of Smith Island, part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay is a vast estuary that receives drainage from over 150 rivers and streams across six states. The bay's ecosystem is highly sensitive to nutrient pollution, which can lead to harmful algal blooms and dead zones. Advanced treatment at this plant helps protect critical habitats for blue crabs, oysters, and waterfowl that rely on the bay's health.