Overview
CLARE STW is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving Braintree, Essex, England. It discharges treated effluent into local waterways, supporting the region's water quality management.
CLARE STW is a wastewater treatment plant located near Braintree in Essex, England. It serves a population of approximately 3,225 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland, about 50 km from the coast, and its operations are part of the broader water infrastructure in the East of England. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into freshwater and estuaries. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,770 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 718 m³, indicating ample capacity for current demand. The treated effluent from CLARE STW is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the North Sea via the River Stour or other nearby rivers. This discharge contributes to the ecological health of the region's waterways, supporting aquatic life and maintaining water quality standards. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local environment from untreated sewage pollution.
Environmental context
CLARE STW discharges into local rivers in the Essex catchment, which flow into the North Sea. The region's waterways support diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish populations and wetland habitats. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, mitigating risks of eutrophication in downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
CLARE STW is located near Braintree in Essex, England, at Rats Castle, Hickford Hill, Belchamp St. Paul, Braintree, Essex, CO10 7DW.
CLARE STW serves a population of approximately 3,225 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK wastewater regulations.
CLARE STW discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that drain into the North Sea via rivers in the Essex catchment.
CLARE STW provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for discharges into freshwater and estuaries.
CLARE STW operates under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size to protect water quality.
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