Culham Clifton Hampden STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in South Oxfordshire, England

Culham Clifton Hampden STW is a wastewater treatment facility located near the village of Culham in South Oxfordshire, England. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,360 people and operates under secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required for inland discharges in the United Kingdom. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,380 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average of 970.69 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment facility, it uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant is regulated under the UK's environmental permitting regime, which implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) as retained in UK law. The treated effluent is discharged into the River Thames catchment, which flows through Oxfordshire and eventually reaches the North Sea via the Thames Estuary. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local water environment, particularly the River Thames and its tributaries, which support diverse aquatic life and are used for recreation and water supply.

The plant discharges into the River Thames catchment, which drains through Oxfordshire and into the Thames Estuary, ultimately reaching the North Sea. The Thames is a major river supporting diverse fish populations, including salmon and eels, and provides habitat for waterfowl and invertebrates. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollution, protecting downstream ecosystems.