Great Chesterford STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in South Cambridgeshire, England

Great Chesterford STW (Sewage Treatment Works) is located in South Cambridgeshire, England, serving a population of around 3,577. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small agglomerations under UK regulations, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,450 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 796 cubic meters, indicating significant spare capacity. As a facility in England, it operates under the Water Industry Act 1991 and complies with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for populations over 2,000. The treated effluent is discharged to a local watercourse, likely a tributary of the River Cam or the Cam itself, which flows through the Cambridgeshire Fens into the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local chalk stream ecosystem, which supports diverse aquatic life and is sensitive to nutrient pollution.

The plant discharges into the River Cam catchment, part of the Great Ouse basin, which drains into the Wash and ultimately the North Sea. The Cam is a chalk stream, a rare and ecologically sensitive habitat supporting species such as brown trout and water voles. Nutrient enrichment from wastewater can impact these ecosystems, making effective treatment essential.