Old Buckenham STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Breckland, Norfolk

Old Buckenham STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in the village of Old Buckenham, near Breckland in Norfolk, England. The facility serves a population of around 2,319 and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is typical for smaller agglomerations in the United Kingdom. As a secondary treatment plant, Old Buckenham STW provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,331 cubic meters per day, with a reported discharge volume of 516.29 cubic meters per day. It operates within the regulatory framework of the UK's Water Industry Act and the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The treated effluent from Old Buckenham STW is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the River Thet and eventually the River Wensum, part of the Norfolk Broads catchment. This area supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive, requiring careful management of nutrient inputs to prevent eutrophication.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the River Thet, a tributary of the River Wensum, which ultimately reaches the North Sea via the Norfolk Broads. The Broads are a network of rivers and lakes that support a rich variety of wildlife, including rare species of birds and aquatic plants. Nutrient loading from wastewater can impact water quality in this sensitive ecosystem.