Overview
UNIV AREA JA FOX HILL ROAD EXT serves State College, Pennsylvania, treating wastewater for approximately 52,000 people. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act NPDES permitting program.
UNIV AREA JA FOX HILL ROAD EXT is a wastewater treatment plant located in State College, Pennsylvania, serving the University Area Joint Authority. The facility handles wastewater from a population of about 52,000, placing it in the medium-to-large agglomeration category for US municipal plants. As a US facility, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The Clean Water Act requires secondary treatment as a baseline for municipal plants, with additional nutrient removal standards applicable to Chesapeake Bay watershed facilities. The plant discharges treated effluent into the Spring Creek watershed, which flows into Bald Eagle Creek and ultimately the West Branch Susquehanna River, part of the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are subject to nutrient reduction goals under the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Spring Creek watershed, a tributary of Bald Eagle Creek and the West Branch Susquehanna River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary facing nutrient pollution challenges, and the plant's discharge contributes to local water quality in Spring Creek, a coldwater fishery supporting trout populations.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in State College, Pennsylvania, USA, operated by the University Area Joint Authority.
The plant serves approximately 52,000 people in the State College area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Spring Creek watershed, which flows into Bald Eagle Creek and the West Branch Susquehanna River, ultimately reaching the Chesapeake Bay.
The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. It must meet secondary treatment standards and may have additional nutrient limits due to the Chesapeake Bay TMDL.
For a plant of this size, typical treatment includes primary and secondary treatment (activated sludge or trickling filters), often with disinfection. Many plants also incorporate nutrient removal to meet state and federal water quality standards.
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