Overview
Swardeston STW is a wastewater treatment plant serving 4,540 people in South Norfolk, England. It operates under UK regulations, discharging treated effluent into local watercourses.
Swardeston STW is a wastewater treatment plant located on The Common in Swardeston, South Norfolk, Norfolk, England. It serves a population of approximately 4,540 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. As a plant of this scale in the United Kingdom, Swardeston STW is expected to provide at least secondary treatment in accordance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (transposed into UK law). The designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megaliters per day or similar unit), indicating the plant's infrastructure is sized to handle the local wastewater load. The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that drain into the River Yare and ultimately the North Sea. This contributes to protecting the Norfolk Broads and coastal ecosystems, which are sensitive to nutrient enrichment and require effective treatment to maintain water quality.
Environmental context
The treated effluent from Swardeston STW flows into small streams that feed the River Yare, a major river in Norfolk. The Yare drains into Breydon Water, a large estuary, before reaching the North Sea at Great Yarmouth. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important corridor for migratory fish. Nutrient management is critical to prevent eutrophication in the Broads and coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
Swardeston STW is located on The Common in Swardeston, South Norfolk, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom.
Swardeston STW serves a population of approximately 4,540 people.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that drain into the River Yare, which flows to the North Sea via Breydon Water.
As a UK plant, Swardeston STW operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. For its population size, secondary treatment is typically required.
For small agglomerations (under 10,000 population equivalent) in the UK, secondary treatment is standard, often using biological processes like activated sludge or trickling filters to meet consent conditions.
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