WIGSTON STW Wastewater Treatment Plant, Oadby and Wigston, Leicestershire

WIGSTON STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in South Wigston, Oadby and Wigston, Leicestershire, England. It serves a population of approximately 34,864 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its treated effluent ultimately drains into the River Soar catchment, part of the River Trent basin. As a plant serving over 10,000 population equivalent, WIGSTON STW is required to meet secondary treatment standards under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which is transposed into UK law. The UK Environment Agency oversees permitting and compliance, ensuring the plant operates within discharge consent conditions to protect water quality. Plants of this scale typically employ biological treatment stages such as activated sludge or trickling filters. The treated wastewater from WIGSTON STW is discharged into local watercourses that feed into the River Soak, a tributary of the River Trent. The River Trent flows into the Humber Estuary, which is a major ecological and economic asset supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species. The plant's performance is critical to maintaining the health of these downstream environments.

WIGSTON STW discharges into the River Soar catchment, which flows into the River Trent and ultimately the Humber Estuary. The Humber Estuary is a large coastal plain estuary that supports important bird populations and fish species, including salmon and eel. The plant's effluent quality directly affects the ecological health of these water bodies, particularly in terms of nutrient loading and oxygen demand.