Overview
Wood Eaton STW serves the village of Church Eaton near Stafford, England, treating wastewater for approximately 4,500 residents as part of the UK's municipal wastewater infrastructure.
Wood Eaton STW is a wastewater treatment works located in Church Eaton, near Stafford, Staffordshire, England. The plant serves a population of around 4,527 people, typical of a small rural community in the West Midlands region. It operates under the UK's water industry regulatory framework, which implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) as retained in domestic law. As a facility serving fewer than 10,000 people, it is expected to provide secondary treatment or equivalent under UK regulations. The UK Environment Agency oversees permitting and compliance for such plants, ensuring discharges meet environmental quality standards. Treated effluent from Wood Eaton STW likely discharges into a local watercourse that feeds into the River Trent catchment, ultimately draining to the North Sea via the Humber Estuary. The plant plays a role in protecting local streams and groundwater from untreated sewage, supporting aquatic life in the region's freshwater ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters a tributary of the River Sow, which flows into the River Trent near Stafford. The Trent catchment is a major river system in the Midlands, supporting diverse freshwater habitats and providing water for agriculture and industry. Downstream, the Trent joins the Humber Estuary, a vital ecological corridor for migratory fish and bird species. Protecting water quality in this catchment is important for maintaining biodiversity and meeting UK water quality targets.
Frequently asked questions
Wood Eaton STW is located in Church Eaton, near Stafford, Staffordshire, England, in the West Midlands region.
The plant serves approximately 4,527 people, typical of a small rural community in Staffordshire.
Treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that flows into the River Sow, a tributary of the River Trent, which drains to the Humber Estuary and the North Sea.
The plant operates under UK water regulations derived from the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, with permitting and enforcement by the Environment Agency.
For agglomerations under 10,000 population equivalent, UK regulations typically require secondary treatment or equivalent to meet environmental quality standards.
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