Headcorn STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Maidstone, Kent

Headcorn STW is a wastewater treatment plant located on Four Oaks Road in Headcorn, near Maidstone, Kent, England. It serves a population of approximately 2,733 people and operates under the regulatory framework of the United Kingdom, which implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) through the Environment Agency. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small agglomerations under UK regulations. Its designed capacity is 8,028 m³/day, with an average daily discharge of 608.46 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The facility is part of Southern Water's infrastructure in the Kent region. Treated effluent from Headcorn STW is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the River Beult, a tributary of the River Medway. The Medway flows through the Kent countryside and eventually reaches the Thames Estuary, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational activities. The plant plays a key role in protecting these water bodies from pollution.

Headcorn STW discharges into the River Beult catchment, which flows into the River Medway and then the Thames Estuary. The Medway is a significant river in Kent, supporting salmonid fisheries and migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, safeguarding the ecological health of the downstream river system and estuary.