Witton Gilbert STW, Witton Gilbert

Overview

Witton Gilbert STW is a wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 7,100 people in County Durham, England. It operates under UK regulations and discharges into the local water environment.

Witton Gilbert STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in Witton Gilbert, County Durham, in the North East of England. The facility serves a population of around 7,100 people, making it a small to medium-sized agglomeration under UK water industry classifications. As a plant serving this population size, it is subject to the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994, which implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. These regulations require secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries for populations above 2,000. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megalitres per day or similar unit), indicating its operational scale. The treated effluent from Witton Gilbert STW is discharged into the local water environment, ultimately contributing to the River Wear catchment. The River Wear flows eastward through County Durham and into the North Sea at Sunderland. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the River Wear and its downstream ecosystems.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the River Wear catchment, which drains into the North Sea. The River Wear supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and trout populations, and its estuary is an important habitat for migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this catchment is essential for maintaining ecological health and supporting recreational uses.

Frequently asked questions

Witton Gilbert STW is located on Coach Lane in Witton Gilbert, County Durham, in the North East of England.

The plant serves approximately 7,100 people, classifying it as a small to medium-sized agglomeration under UK wastewater regulations.

The treated effluent is discharged into the local water environment, which ultimately flows into the River Wear catchment and then to the North Sea.

The plant operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994, which require secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater for populations over 2,000.

For plants of this scale in the UK, secondary treatment is standard, often involving biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, followed by settlement.