SAWSTON STW | Wastewater Treatment Plant in South Cambridgeshire, England

SAWSTON STW is a wastewater treatment plant located on Cambridge Road in Sawston, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire, England. It serves a population of around 10,880 people as part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant operates under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size (between 10,000 and 15,000 population equivalent). The regulatory framework ensures compliance with discharge standards to protect local water quality. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the River Cam, a tributary of the River Great Ouse. The Great Ouse flows into The Wash, an ecologically important estuary and bay on the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in safeguarding the River Cam's water quality, which supports diverse aquatic life and recreational use.

SAWSTON STW discharges into the River Cam catchment, which flows into the River Great Ouse and ultimately reaches The Wash on the North Sea coast. The Wash is a large estuary and bay of significant ecological importance, supporting diverse bird populations and marine life. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this sensitive downstream environment.