Winter Harbor WWTF - Secondary Treatment Plant Serving Winter Harbor, Maine

Winter Harbor Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) serves the coastal community of Winter Harbor, Maine, United States. The plant provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 998 residents, operating as a municipal facility in Hancock County. The plant has a designed capacity of 473.18 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 378.54 m³/day. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment, which mandates secondary treatment for discharges to surface waters. Located within 10 km of the Atlantic coast, the plant's treated effluent ultimately reaches the Gulf of Maine, a biologically productive marine ecosystem. The facility plays a key role in protecting local coastal waters and the diverse marine life that depends on water quality in this region.

Winter Harbor WWTF discharges treated wastewater into the coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine, a major marine ecosystem known for its rich fisheries and marine biodiversity. The plant's proximity to the coast means its effluent directly influences nearshore water quality, supporting habitats for species such as lobster, groundfish, and migratory seabirds. Protecting this sensitive coastal environment requires effective nutrient and pathogen removal through secondary treatment.