OUNDLE STW - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cotterstock, England

OUNDLE STW is a wastewater treatment plant serving the village of Cotterstock in North Northamptonshire, England. The facility treats wastewater from a population equivalent of around 5,938, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under UK regulatory frameworks. As a UK wastewater facility, OUNDLE STW operates under the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. For agglomerations of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, with additional nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas. The treated effluent from OUNDLE STW is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the River Nene catchment. The River Nene flows through Northamptonshire and into The Wash, an ecologically important estuary on the east coast of England that supports diverse birdlife and aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into the River Nene catchment, which flows eastward through the Fens and into The Wash. The Wash is a large estuary and a site of international importance for migratory birds and marine life. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, and the river supports coarse fisheries and wetland habitats. Nutrient management is a key concern in this catchment to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.