SHENSTONE STW: Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Lichfield, England

SHENSTONE STW is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Shenstone, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It serves a population equivalent of around 4,126, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and discharges treated effluent into local watercourses. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,500 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 918.59 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent from SHENSTONE STW is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the River Tame, a tributary of the River Trent. The Trent flows into the Humber Estuary and ultimately the North Sea. This catchment supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality management. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local environment from pollution and maintaining the ecological health of the downstream river system.

SHENSTONE STW discharges into a local stream that feeds into the River Tame, part of the River Trent basin. The Trent flows through the Midlands into the Humber Estuary, a major ecological zone supporting migratory fish and wetland birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, protecting downstream water quality in this sensitive river system.