DONISTHORPE STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in North West Leicestershire, England

DONISTHORPE STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in the village of Donisthorpe, within the North West Leicestershire district of England, United Kingdom. The facility serves a population of around 3,079 and operates under the regulatory framework of the UK Environment Agency, which enforces the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) for plants of this scale. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard requirement under the UWWTD for inland discharges from agglomerations of this size. It has a designed capacity of 3,250 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 685.49 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treatment process involves biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the River Mease, a tributary of the River Trent. The River Mease is a sensitive ecosystem designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its freshwater pearl mussel population. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality management in the Trent catchment, which ultimately flows into the Humber Estuary and the North Sea.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed the River Mease, a tributary of the River Trent. The River Mease supports a diverse aquatic ecosystem, including the freshwater pearl mussel, and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Trent catchment drains into the Humber Estuary, a major ecological and economic resource on the North Sea coast. Effective wastewater treatment at DONISTHORPE STW helps protect these downstream environments from nutrient enrichment and pollution.