REIGATE STW, Reigate and Banstead

Overview

REIGATE STW serves Reigate and Banstead, England, treating wastewater for approximately 55,800 people. The plant operates under UK regulations and discharges into local watercourses.

REIGATE STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in South Earlswood, Surrey, serving the Reigate and Banstead area of England. The facility handles sewage from a population of around 55,800, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. As a UK plant, it operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, requiring secondary treatment for inland discharges from populations over 2,000. The treated effluent is discharged into local rivers that drain into the Thames Basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality in Surrey's chalk streams and downstream ecosystems.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the River Mole catchment, a tributary of the River Thames. The Thames flows through London and into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary. The local watershed includes chalk streams that support diverse aquatic life, including brown trout and other sensitive species. Effective treatment is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain ecological balance in these habitats.

Frequently asked questions

REIGATE STW is located on Woodhatch Road in South Earlswood, near Salfords, in the Reigate and Banstead district of Surrey, England.

The plant serves approximately 55,800 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under UK wastewater regulations.

Treated effluent from REIGATE STW is discharged into local watercourses within the River Mole catchment, which flows into the River Thames and eventually the North Sea.

As a UK plant, REIGATE STW operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, which implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. These require secondary treatment for inland discharges from populations over 2,000.

For a population of this size, UK regulations typically mandate secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be required to reduce nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.