CHARTHAM STW | Wastewater Treatment Plant in Canterbury, England

CHARTHAM STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in Chartham, near Canterbury, Kent, England. It serves a population of 6,564, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant is situated on Great Stour Way, adjacent to the River Great Stour. As a small agglomeration, the plant is required to provide secondary treatment under the EU UWWTD, which is the standard for inland freshwater discharges. The designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megalitres per day or similar unit), indicating a modest scale appropriate for the population served. The plant operates within England's regulatory framework, overseen by the Environment Agency, which issues discharge permits under the Water Resources Act 1991. The treated effluent is discharged into the River Great Stour, which flows through the Kent countryside and the Stour Valley. The river joins the Little Stour near Plucks Gutter and eventually reaches the English Channel at Pegwell Bay, an ecologically important area supporting diverse birdlife and marine habitats. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this sensitive coastal environment.

The River Great Stour is the primary receiving water body, flowing through the Stour Valley to the English Channel via Pegwell Bay. This coastal area supports important bird populations and marine ecosystems, including salt marshes and mudflats that serve as migratory stopovers. The plant's discharge must meet stringent quality standards to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect downstream aquatic life.