There are 483 major wastewater treatment plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus discharged by these facilities have degraded local waterways and the Bay. As the watershed’s population continues to grow, so does the volume of water requiring treatment.
Bay jurisdictions have reduced the pollution in wastewater through a new permitting process that requires plants to upgrade the technology they use to treat wastewater.
Learn more about reducing pollution from wastewater treatment plants.
Reduce nutrient loads from municipal and industrial wastewater dischargers in the watershed portions of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia to correct the nutrient-related problems in the Bay and its tidal tributaries by 2010.
Long-term trend (since 1985)
- The wastewater nitrogen pollution controls score increased from 0 percent to 67 percent of goal achieved.
- The wastewater phosphorus pollution controls score increased from 0 percent to 91.3 percent of goal achieved.
Short-term trend (10-year trend)
Between 1999 and 2008:
- The wastewater nitrogen pollution controls score increased from 48.5 percent to 67 percent of goal achieved.
- The wastewater phosphorus pollution controls score increased from 84.4 percent to 91.3 percent of goal achieved.
Change from previous year (2007-2008)
- The wastewater nitrogen pollution controls score fell from 68.7 percent to 67 percent of goal achieved.
- The wastewater phosphorus pollution controls score increased from 87 percent to 91.3 percent.
Reducing Pollution
The states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the District of Columbia have developed strategies for reducing pollution in their jurisdictions. Progress is measured by using the most up-to-date monitoring and tracking data gathered by Bay Program partners. Computer simulations are used to estimate the amount of pollution control efforts implemented in relation to the commitments made by the Bay jurisdictions in their cleanup strategies.
Reducing Nutrients in Wastewater
In 2005, Bay jurisdictions began putting into place a new permitting approach that requires hundreds of wastewater treatment plants to install a new generation of equipment, such as nutrient removal technology (NRT), to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads.
Phosphate Detergent Ban
After signing the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement, the signatory jurisdictions (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia) instituted phosphate detergent bans. These bans resulted in significant decreases in the amount of phosphorus entering the Bay from wastewater treatment plants.
Jeff Sweeney at (800) 968-7229 ext. 844
Chesapeake Bay Program Office