WELLOW STW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in New Forest, England

WELLOW STW is a wastewater treatment works located in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,419 people, treating domestic wastewater from the surrounding rural and suburban areas. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and solids before discharge. The plant operates under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,419 population equivalent, the plant is sized to match the served population. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that feed into the River Test or River Avon, both of which flow into the English Channel via the Solent. These rivers support diverse aquatic life, including salmonid fisheries, and are ecologically sensitive. The plant's operation helps protect water quality in the New Forest National Park and downstream coastal waters.

The plant discharges into small watercourses that drain into the River Test or River Avon, both of which are chalk streams of high ecological value. These rivers support diverse aquatic life, including salmon, trout, and rare invertebrates, and flow into the Solent and English Channel. The New Forest area is a protected landscape with sensitive habitats, making effective wastewater treatment crucial for maintaining water quality.