BALSHAM STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in South Cambridgeshire, England

BALSHAM STW is a wastewater treatment works located in Balsham, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire, England. It serves a population of approximately 2,254 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the River Cam catchment. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 2,500 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 501.82 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent from BALSHAM STW ultimately flows into the River Cam, which is part of the Great Ouse basin. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and agriculture. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect water quality in the Cam and downstream environments, including the Ouse Washes, an ecologically important wetland area.

BALSHAM STW discharges into local watercourses that feed into the River Cam, a chalk stream in eastern England. The River Cam flows through Cambridge and joins the Great Ouse, which eventually reaches the Wash, a large estuary and important habitat for migratory birds and marine life. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain the ecological health of these waters.