OTTERY ST MARY STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in East Devon, England

OTTERY ST MARY STW is a wastewater treatment facility located in East Devon, England, serving the community of Ottery St Mary. The plant treats wastewater for a population equivalent of 2,294 and operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for smaller agglomerations. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,559 m³/day and currently discharges an average volume of 510.72 m³/day of treated effluent. As a coastal facility within 10 km of the coastline, it must meet stringent discharge standards to protect marine waters. The plant is part of the UK's wastewater infrastructure regulated by the Environment Agency under the Water Industry Act 1991. The treated effluent from OTTERY ST MARY STW ultimately reaches the English Channel via local watercourses. The coastal environment supports diverse marine life and is an important area for migratory birds and fisheries. The plant's secondary treatment ensures that organic pollutants and suspended solids are reduced before discharge, helping to maintain water quality in the sensitive coastal zone.

The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that drain to the English Channel, a coastal environment supporting diverse marine ecosystems. The area is ecologically sensitive, with habitats for migratory birds and commercial fisheries. Secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, protecting the coastal water quality and the downstream marine environment.