Bicester Bicester Oxon STW - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cherwell, Oxfordshire

Bicester Bicester Oxon STW is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cherwell, Oxfordshire, England, serving a population of around 45,500. The plant is situated in the town of Bicester, part of the Cherwell district, and plays a key role in managing local wastewater for this growing community. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, it is subject to the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for populations over 2,000 and more stringent treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these standards, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the River Thames catchment, which flows into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary. This downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in southern England.

The plant discharges into the River Thames catchment, which flows through Oxfordshire and into the Thames Estuary, eventually reaching the North Sea. The local watershed includes the River Cherwell, a tributary of the Thames, which supports diverse freshwater species and provides habitat for migratory fish. The downstream environment is ecologically sensitive, with areas designated for their biodiversity value.