STONHAM ASPAL STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Mid Suffolk, England

STONHAM ASPAL STW is a wastewater treatment plant located on Stowmarket Road in Mid Suffolk, Suffolk, England. It serves a population of 2,310 and treats wastewater to secondary level, a standard required for inland plants under UK regulations. The plant's designed capacity is 2,310 population equivalent, and it discharges 514.29 m³/day of treated effluent. As a secondary treatment facility, STONHAM ASPAL STW meets the minimum treatment standard set by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which the UK has retained post-Brexit. For agglomerations under 10,000 population equivalent, secondary treatment is typically sufficient unless the receiving water is a sensitive area. The plant's inland location means it does not require more advanced treatment for coastal protection. The treated effluent from STONHAM ASPAL STW is discharged into a local watercourse, likely a tributary of the River Gipping, which flows into the Orwell Estuary and then the North Sea. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is important for local biodiversity. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the Suffolk catchment.

STONHAM ASPAL STW discharges into a local watercourse that drains into the River Gipping, which flows through Suffolk to the Orwell Estuary and ultimately the North Sea. The receiving waters support a variety of fish and invertebrate species, and the estuary is an important habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, safeguarding the ecological health of the downstream environment.