Rudgwick STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Horsham, England

Rudgwick STW is a wastewater treatment plant located near Rudgwick, West Sussex, serving the Horsham area in England. The facility provides secondary treatment for a population equivalent of 2,294, reflecting its role as a small-scale municipal plant in the rural-urban fringe of the South East. As a secondary treatment plant, Rudgwick STW meets the standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary biological treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity of 2,294 population equivalent aligns with its current service population, and it discharges approximately 510.72 cubic meters per day of treated effluent. The treated wastewater from Rudgwick STW ultimately drains into the River Arun catchment, which flows southward through West Sussex to the English Channel. The river supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's inland location, more than 10 km from the coast, reduces direct marine nutrient loading but still contributes to the overall water quality of the Arun basin.

Rudgwick STW discharges into the River Arun catchment, which flows through the Sussex Weald to the English Channel. The Arun is a chalk stream supporting diverse aquatic life, including salmonids and coarse fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system, which is important for both biodiversity and local recreation.