Overview
Burnham on Sea / Highbridge STW serves around 52,000 people in Huntspill, Somerset, England. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways within the Somerset Levels, a low-lying wetland area.
Burnham on Sea / Highbridge STW is a wastewater treatment facility located near Huntspill in Somerset, England. It serves a population of approximately 52,118, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under UK regulations. The plant is situated in the Somerset Levels, a coastal plain and wetland area near the Bristol Channel. As a UK wastewater treatment plant serving over 50,000 people, it operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, which implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). These regulations require secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries, with more stringent tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megalitres per day or similar units), indicating its scale. The treated effluent from the plant ultimately drains into the River Parrett or its tributaries, flowing into the Bristol Channel. The Somerset Levels are an ecologically important wetland supporting diverse birdlife and aquatic species. The plant's discharge must meet strict quality standards to protect this sensitive environment, which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Ramsar site.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Somerset Levels, a low-lying wetland system that drains via the River Parrett into the Bristol Channel. This area is ecologically sensitive, supporting a wide range of bird species, aquatic plants, and invertebrates. The Levels are an important floodplain and migratory corridor, requiring careful management of nutrient loads and water quality to prevent eutrophication and habitat degradation.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Leekbeds Lane, Alstone, West Huntspill, near Huntspill in Somerset, England. It serves the communities of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge.
The plant serves approximately 52,118 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under UK wastewater regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways within the Somerset Levels, which eventually drain into the River Parrett and then the Bristol Channel.
As a UK plant serving over 50,000 people, it operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, which implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. These require secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment in sensitive areas like the Somerset Levels.
Plants of this scale typically provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum. In sensitive areas like the Somerset Levels, tertiary treatment (e.g., nutrient removal) may be required to protect water quality and ecosystems.
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