Overview
Michaelwood STW is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 2,882 people in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. It discharges treated effluent into the local water environment near the River Severn estuary.
Michaelwood STW (Sewage Treatment Works) is located near Stroud in Gloucestershire, England, serving a population of approximately 2,882. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 5,930 cubic meters per day and an average daily discharge volume of 641.63 cubic meters, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. As a secondary treatment plant, Michaelwood STW uses biological processes to break down organic matter before discharging treated effluent. The plant is situated within 10 kilometers of the coast, meaning its discharge ultimately reaches the Severn Estuary, a major tidal estuary that flows into the Bristol Channel. The regulatory framework for this plant is the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, now retained as domestic law, which sets standards for secondary treatment and, in sensitive areas, more stringent tertiary treatment. The treated effluent from Michaelwood STW enters local watercourses that drain into the River Severn and its estuary. The Severn Estuary is an ecologically important area, supporting diverse aquatic life including migratory fish species such as salmon and eels. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect water quality in this sensitive downstream environment, reducing nutrient and organic pollution loads.
Environmental context
Michaelwood STW discharges into the Severn Estuary via local tributaries of the River Severn. The Severn Estuary is a major tidal system that flows into the Bristol Channel and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean. This estuary supports a rich ecosystem, including important bird populations and fish species. The plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient enrichment and organic pollution, contributing to the ecological health of this dynamic coastal environment.
Frequently asked questions
Michaelwood STW is located near Stroud in Gloucestershire, England, at Damery Lane, Swanley, Alkington, Woodford, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL13 9JR.
Michaelwood STW serves a population of approximately 2,882 people in the Stroud area.
Michaelwood STW provides secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater.
The treated effluent from Michaelwood STW is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the River Severn and eventually the Severn Estuary, a major tidal estuary leading to the Bristol Channel.
Michaelwood STW operates under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant is also subject to environmental permits issued by the Environment Agency.
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