TUDDENHAM STW - West Suffolk Wastewater Treatment Plant, England, UK

TUDDENHAM STW is a wastewater treatment plant located on Higham Road in West Suffolk, Suffolk, England. The facility serves a population of around 5,456 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland, approximately 50 km from the coast, and its operations are part of the region's water infrastructure managed by the local water authority. As a small agglomeration, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment in accordance with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which is transposed into UK law. The directive requires appropriate treatment to protect the receiving water environment. The plant's scale suggests it likely employs conventional biological treatment methods common for such facilities in the UK. The treated effluent from TUDDENHAM STW is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the North Sea via the River Lark and the Great Ouse system. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of these rivers and the downstream coastal environment. Its operation helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, supporting aquatic life and maintaining ecological balance in the region.

TUDDENHAM STW discharges into the River Lark, a tributary of the Great Ouse, which flows into the Wash and then the North Sea. The River Lark supports diverse freshwater habitats and is used for recreation and agriculture. The plant's treatment helps control nutrient inputs, preventing eutrophication in downstream waters and protecting the sensitive coastal ecosystem of the Wash, an important area for birdlife and marine biodiversity.