Charing STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ashford, Kent

Charing STW is a wastewater treatment plant located on Dog Kennel Lane in Charing, near Ashford, Kent, England. It serves a population of approximately 2,805 people, making it a small agglomeration under UK and EU classifications. The plant operates as part of the regional wastewater infrastructure managed by the local water authority. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for inland freshwater discharges. For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is appropriate to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The designed capacity of 2,805 population equivalents aligns with the population served, indicating adequate sizing. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the River Stour and then into the North Sea via the English Channel. The River Stour supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in Kent. By treating wastewater to secondary standards, Charing STW helps maintain water quality in this sensitive catchment.

Charing STW discharges into a tributary of the River Stour, which flows through the Kent countryside before reaching the North Sea at Pegwell Bay. The River Stour is a chalk stream ecosystem that supports diverse aquatic species, including brown trout and various invertebrates. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect this sensitive freshwater environment from nutrient enrichment and organic pollution.