Ludgershall STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ludgershall, Wiltshire

Ludgershall STW is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Ludgershall, Wiltshire, England. It serves a population of approximately 4,024, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The facility is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and its treated effluent ultimately drains into the Hampshire Avon river system. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity is 4,024 population equivalent, and it treats an average daily flow of approximately 896 cubic meters. Treated effluent from Ludgershall STW is discharged into local watercourses that feed into the River Avon (Hampshire), which flows southward through the New Forest and into the English Channel at Christchurch Harbour. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are part of a catchment designated for its ecological importance, including chalk stream habitats that are sensitive to nutrient enrichment.

Ludgershall STW discharges into the Hampshire Avon catchment, a chalk stream system that flows into the English Channel via Christchurch Harbour. The River Avon supports diverse aquatic species, including salmonids and lamprey, and its chalk stream habitats are sensitive to nutrient pollution.