Guildford Surrey STW, Guildford

Overview

Guildford Surrey STW serves approximately 87,800 people in Guildford, England. The plant operates under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

Guildford Surrey STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in Slyfield Industrial Estate, Jacobs Well, near Guildford, Surrey, England. The facility serves a population of approximately 87,800, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under UK regulatory frameworks. The plant operates under the UK's transposition of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into inland waters. The UK Environment Agency oversees permitting and compliance for such facilities, ensuring treated effluent meets quality standards to protect receiving water bodies. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the River Wey, a tributary of the River Thames. The Thames then flows through London into the North Sea. The River Wey supports diverse aquatic life and is an important corridor for migratory fish species, making effective treatment essential for ecological health.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the River Wey, which flows into the River Thames and ultimately the North Sea. The River Wey is a chalk stream supporting diverse aquatic life, including salmonids and other sensitive species. Effective treatment is critical to maintain water quality in this ecologically important river system.

Frequently asked questions

Guildford Surrey STW is located at Slyfield Industrial Estate, Jacobs Well, near Guildford, Surrey, England.

The plant serves approximately 87,800 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under UK regulations.

The plant discharges treated effluent into the River Wey, a tributary of the River Thames, which flows to the North Sea.

The plant operates under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), enforced by the Environment Agency, which mandates secondary treatment for inland discharges from agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent.

Under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving over 10,000 population equivalent discharging into inland waters are required to provide secondary treatment. Many also incorporate tertiary treatment to meet stringent water quality standards in sensitive catchments like the River Wey.