LAVENHAM STW F_E Wastewater Treatment Plant, Babergh, Suffolk

LAVENHAM STW F_E is a wastewater treatment works located in Lavenham, Babergh, Suffolk, England. The plant serves a population of 2,125 and operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. The facility has a designed capacity of 2,229 m³/day and currently discharges 473.10 m³/day of treated effluent. As a secondary treatment plant, LAVENHAM STW F_E provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant is part of the wastewater infrastructure managed by the UK water industry, operating under environmental permits issued by the Environment Agency. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is typically sufficient to protect receiving water quality. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into a local watercourse, which ultimately drains into the River Brett and then the River Stour, flowing into the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the River Stour catchment, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and agriculture. Its operation helps maintain water quality standards in this rural area of Suffolk.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the River Brett, part of the River Stour catchment in Suffolk. The River Stour flows eastward into the North Sea at Harwich, supporting a mix of freshwater and estuarine habitats. The catchment is ecologically sensitive, with areas designated for their biodiversity value, including wetlands and grasslands that rely on good water quality. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and oxygen depletion.