Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.74
Liaison Krista Bailey
Submission Date Oct. 20, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Pennsylvania State University
OP-28: Wastewater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Shelley McKeague
Environmental Compliance Specialist
Engineering Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total wastewater discharged:
619,477,000 Gallons

Wastewater naturally handled:
619,477,000 Gallons

A brief description of the natural wastewater systems used to handle the institution’s wastewater:

Penn State owns and operates a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), and is permitted to treat up to 4 million gallons per day of wastewater. The plant is comprised of two treatment trains: activated sludge and trickling filters. The trickling filter processed water is sent through a Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) process to reduce the nitrate levels in the wastewater. The disinfected treated water from these two parallel treatment trains is combined and spray irrigated on approximately 516 acres of farmland and forests near the University (Living Filter) and helps to recharge the groundwater system.


The website URL where information about the institution’s wastewater management practices is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Wastewater total derived from monthly MGD values reported in annual Chapter 94 report.


Wastewater total derived from monthly MGD values reported in annual Chapter 94 report.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.