Earl Shilton STW - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hinckley and Bosworth, England

Earl Shilton STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, serving the Hinckley and Bosworth area of England. The facility treats wastewater from a population of approximately 26,069, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory standards. As a plant serving over 10,000 people, Earl Shilton STW is subject to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. The UK's Environment Agency oversees compliance through discharge permits, ensuring the plant meets environmental standards for effluent quality. The treated wastewater is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the River Soar, a tributary of the River Trent. The River Trent flows into the Humber Estuary, which ultimately reaches the North Sea. This catchment supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality management.

The plant's discharge enters the River Soar catchment, which flows into the River Trent and then the Humber Estuary, a major ecological feature supporting migratory fish and bird populations. The Humber Estuary is a vital habitat for species such as salmon and eels, and its mudflats and saltmarshes provide feeding grounds for wading birds. Protecting water quality in this system is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and meeting UK water framework directive targets.