Overview
Petersfield STW serves approximately 20,400 people near Chichester, England. The plant operates under the UK's urban wastewater treatment regulations, discharging treated effluent into local watercourses.
Petersfield STW is a wastewater treatment plant located near Chichester in West Sussex, England, serving a population of around 20,400. The facility is situated in the rural area of Durford, Harting, and is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to meet secondary treatment standards under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). Plants of this scale typically employ biological treatment stages to reduce organic matter and nutrients before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the River Rother and eventually the English Channel. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are part of the South Downs National Park's sensitive ecosystem, requiring careful management of nutrient loads to prevent eutrophication.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the River Rother catchment, which flows into the Arun and ultimately the English Channel. This coastal watershed supports important habitats for fish, invertebrates, and bird species. The proximity to the South Downs National Park means that nutrient pollution must be carefully controlled to protect chalk streams and groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
Petersfield STW is located near Durford, Harting, in West Sussex, England, approximately 5 km south of Petersfield and 20 km north of Chichester.
The plant serves approximately 20,423 people in the Petersfield area and surrounding communities.
Treated effluent from Petersfield STW is discharged into local watercourses that feed into the River Rother, which flows to the English Channel.
As a UK wastewater plant serving over 10,000 people, Petersfield STW operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations, which implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), requiring secondary treatment.
Plants of this scale in the UK typically employ secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to reduce biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids. Some may also include tertiary treatment for nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas.
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