Overview
LOUGHBOROUGH STW serves approximately 72,510 people in Charnwood, Leicestershire, England. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses within the River Soar catchment.
LOUGHBOROUGH STW is a wastewater treatment plant serving the Charnwood area of Leicestershire, England, including the town of Loughborough. With a population served of around 72,510, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) as a medium agglomeration, requiring secondary treatment as a minimum standard. As a plant operating under the UK's regulatory framework, it is subject to environmental permits issued by the Environment Agency, which set discharge consents to protect receiving waters. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the River Soar catchment, which flows into the River Trent and eventually the Humber Estuary and North Sea. This watercourse supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity, making effective treatment essential for maintaining water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the River Soar catchment, part of the River Trent basin, which drains into the Humber Estuary and the North Sea. The River Soar supports a variety of fish species and aquatic habitats, and the downstream Humber Estuary is a major ecological site for migratory birds and fish. Effective wastewater treatment is crucial to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect these sensitive ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
LOUGHBOROUGH STW is located at Swingbridge Road, Dishley, Loughborough, in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England.
The plant serves approximately 72,510 people in the Charnwood area, including Loughborough and surrounding communities.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses within the River Soar catchment, which flows into the River Trent and eventually the Humber Estuary and North Sea.
As a UK plant, it operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) transposed into UK law, with discharge permits issued by the Environment Agency to ensure compliance with water quality standards.
Under the UWWTD, agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent require secondary treatment. Plants of this scale often use activated sludge or biological filtration to meet standards for organic matter and suspended solids.
Nearby plants