STONE STW Wastewater Treatment Plant, Stone, Buckinghamshire

STONE STW is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Stone, Buckinghamshire, England, serving a population of around 3,200. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its treated effluent is discharged into local rivers that ultimately drain into the Thames Basin. As a secondary treatment plant, STONE STW uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the regulatory standards set by the UK Environment Agency. The plant's designed capacity of 3,200 cubic meters per day aligns with the population served, indicating adequate infrastructure for the community. The operational context is governed by the UK's implementation of the EU UWWTD, which mandates secondary treatment for inland plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent. The treated wastewater from STONE STW is discharged into local watercourses, contributing to the Thames River Basin. This basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in southern England. The plant's discharge is regulated to protect water quality and downstream habitats, including rivers that flow through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

STONE STW discharges into local streams that are part of the Thames River Basin, which ultimately drains into the North Sea via the River Thames. The receiving water bodies support a range of aquatic species and are ecologically sensitive, particularly in the Chilterns region. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality standards to protect downstream ecosystems and biodiversity.