WILLINGTON STW - Spennymoor Wastewater Treatment Plant, County Durham

WILLINGTON STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in Spennymoor, County Durham, in the North East of England. It serves a population of approximately 9,314 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under UK regulatory frameworks. The plant operates under the UK's Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, with additional nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megalitres per day or similar unit), indicating a modest scale. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the North Sea via the River Wear or nearby tributaries. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the River Wear catchment, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and fisheries.

The plant discharges into the River Wear catchment, which flows eastward through County Durham and into the North Sea at Sunderland. The River Wear supports salmon and trout populations and is an important ecological corridor. The downstream environment includes estuarine and coastal habitats that are sensitive to nutrient enrichment and pollution.