IVY DOWN LANE EAST OAKLEY Wastewater Treatment Plant, Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire

IVY DOWN LANE EAST OAKLEY is a wastewater treatment plant located in East Oakley, near Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire, England. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,640 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK wastewater regulations. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the River Test or River Itchen, both of which are ecologically sensitive chalk streams. As a UK wastewater treatment plant, IVY DOWN LANE EAST OAKLEY operates under the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), the directive requires appropriate treatment, typically secondary treatment, unless the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, in which case more stringent treatment may be required. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megaliters per day or similar unit), indicating its scale. The plant's discharge contributes to the local water environment, which includes chalk streams known for their high ecological value and biodiversity. These streams support species such as salmon, trout, and water crowfoot. The plant's operation is critical to maintaining water quality in the River Test and River Itchen catchments, which are important for drinking water supply, recreation, and conservation.

The plant discharges into local watercourses that are part of the River Test or River Itchen catchment, both of which are chalk streams of high ecological importance. These rivers flow into the English Channel via Southampton Water. Chalk streams are globally rare and support diverse aquatic life, including brown trout, Atlantic salmon, and various invertebrates. The plant's treatment performance directly affects the water quality of these sensitive ecosystems.