Overview
Swalecliffe STW serves Canterbury, Kent, England, treating wastewater for approximately 37,000 people. The plant discharges into local watercourses within the Thames River basin.
Swalecliffe STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in Swalecliffe, near Canterbury in Kent, England. It serves a population of approximately 36,960 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under UK and EU classifications. The facility is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, managed by the local water authority. As a plant in the United Kingdom, Swalecliffe STW operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megaliters per day or similar unit), indicating its scale. UK plants typically employ biological treatment stages to meet regulatory standards. The treated effluent from Swalecliffe STW is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Thames Estuary and ultimately the North Sea. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional biodiversity. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Thames basin and downstream coastal environments.
Environmental context
Swalecliffe STW discharges into local streams that flow into the Thames Estuary, a major tidal estuary on the east coast of England. The Thames Estuary supports a variety of fish, birds, and invertebrates, and is an important migratory corridor for species such as eels and salmon. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive area, which is subject to nutrient and pollution pressures from urban and agricultural runoff.
Frequently asked questions
Swalecliffe STW is located in Swalecliffe, near Canterbury in Kent, England, United Kingdom. Its address is Swalecliffe, Canterbury, Kent, CT5 2NX.
Swalecliffe STW serves approximately 36,960 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent from Swalecliffe STW is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Thames Estuary and eventually the North Sea.
As a UK plant, Swalecliffe STW operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent.
For medium-sized agglomerations like Swalecliffe STW, UK plants typically employ secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet regulatory standards for organic matter and suspended solids removal.
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