ILCHESTER STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ilchester, Somerset

ILCHESTER STW is a wastewater treatment plant located near the A303 in Ilchester, Somerset, England. It serves a population of approximately 2,170 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for inland freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,659 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average volume of 483 cubic meters per day. Treated effluent from ILCHESTER STW is discharged into the local river system, which ultimately drains into the Bristol Channel via the River Parrett and its tributaries. This contributes to the ecological health of the Somerset Levels and downstream coastal waters, supporting diverse aquatic life and wetland habitats.

ILCHESTER STW discharges into the River Yeo or a tributary of the River Parrett, which flows through the Somerset Levels to the Bristol Channel. The Somerset Levels are a low-lying wetland area of high ecological importance, supporting diverse bird species and aquatic plants. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect these sensitive downstream environments from nutrient pollution.