BARCOMBE NEW STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lewes, East Sussex

BARCOMBE NEW STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in Barcombe, near Lewes in East Sussex, England. It serves a population of approximately 3,451 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland but within 10 km of the coast, highlighting its role in protecting coastal water quality. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. Secondary treatment involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,451 population equivalents and treats an average daily flow of 768.31 m³. Treated effluent from BARCOMBE NEW STW is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the English Channel. The plant plays a key role in safeguarding the ecological health of the Ouse catchment and the nearby Sussex coast, which supports diverse marine life and is important for recreation and tourism.

The plant discharges into the River Ouse catchment, which flows through the Sussex Weald and into the English Channel at Newhaven. The downstream environment includes estuarine and coastal habitats that support fish, birds, and invertebrates. The proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means that nutrient and pathogen removal is critical to prevent eutrophication and protect bathing waters along the Sussex coast.