DIPTON STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Harelaw, County Durham

DIPTON STW is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Collierley Lane in Harelaw, near Flint Hill, County Durham, in the North East of England. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,500 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards as required by UK regulations. As a secondary treatment plant, DIPTON STW employs biological treatment processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,547 cubic meters per day and reports a discharge volume of 554.58 cubic meters per day. It operates within the framework of the UK's water quality regulations, which implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The treated wastewater from DIPTON STW is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the River Wear and then the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the River Wear catchment, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and water supply downstream.

DIPTON STW discharges into local streams that flow into the River Wear, which runs through County Durham and enters the North Sea at Sunderland. The River Wear catchment supports salmon and trout populations and is designated for its ecological value. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream habitats and water quality in the North Sea coastal zone.