Overview
Washington Twp Franklin STP serves Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, treating wastewater for approximately 7,962 residents. The plant operates under US EPA NPDES regulations for municipal wastewater treatment.
Washington Twp Franklin STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, serving a population of around 7,962. The facility is part of the wastewater infrastructure in Franklin County, managed by the Washington Township Municipal Authority. As a US-based 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 in the receiving streams. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways that drain into the Potomac River watershed, ultimately reaching the Chesapeake Bay. This makes the plant's performance important for downstream aquatic ecosystems and the broader Bay restoration efforts.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into streams within the Potomac River basin, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including striped bass, blue crabs, and migratory waterfowl. Nutrient and sediment loads from wastewater plants in this region are closely monitored to prevent eutrophication and hypoxia in the Bay.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 11102 Buchanan Trail East in Rouzerville, near Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, within Franklin County.
The plant serves approximately 7,962 residents in the Washington Township area, including parts of Waynesboro.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that are part of the Potomac River watershed, which ultimately flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
As a US municipal 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 employ secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA effluent guidelines.
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