Overview
Swinton Sewage Treatment Works serves the town of Swinton, South Yorkshire, England. The plant treats wastewater for approximately 18,664 people and discharges into local waterways.
Swinton Sewage Treatment Works is a municipal wastewater facility located in Swinton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The plant serves a population of around 18,664 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. As a UK wastewater treatment plant, Swinton STW operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for populations over 2,000 and more stringent treatment if discharging into sensitive areas. Typical UK plants of this scale employ activated sludge or biological filtration systems. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the River Don and then the Humber Estuary, which flows into the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of these downstream environments, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters local streams that feed into the River Don, a major river in South Yorkshire. The Don flows through Sheffield and Rotherham before joining the River Ouse to form the Humber Estuary, a large tidal estuary that supports diverse birdlife and fish populations. The Humber Estuary is ecologically sensitive, providing important habitats for migratory birds and commercially important fish species. Effective wastewater treatment at Swinton helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads to this downstream ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Swinton Sewage Treatment Works is located on Meadow Way in Swinton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, with the postcode S64 8AB.
The plant serves approximately 18,664 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under UK and EU wastewater regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually flow into the River Don, which joins the Humber Estuary and then the North Sea.
As a UK plant, it operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for populations over 2,000 and additional nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas.
Plants of this scale in the UK typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, often followed by tertiary treatment to meet strict environmental standards for sensitive receiving waters.
Nearby plants