Sewage

Thames Water is the authority responsible for treating and disposing of our sewage 

Sewage from Sandridge is handled by Thames Water as the regional sewerage provider. 

It is processed at the Maple Lodge Sewage Treatment Works, located in Maple Cross near Rickmansworth.  This facility serves much of west Hertfordshire. 

The treated effluent from Maple Lodge is usually discharged into the adjacent Grand Union Canal, but untreated storm overflows or spills from this works, when they occur, are discharged into the River Colne. 

See below for Thames Water's reaction to St Albans housebuilding developments:

In the statutory consultee response to the Shottridge Close proposal, Thames Water informs the Council:

Thames Water has identified an inability of the existing SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS infrastructure to accommodate the needs of this development proposal. As such Thames Water request the following condition be added to any planning permission.

• No development shall be occupied until confirmation has been provided that either:- 

• all sewage works upgrades required to accommodate the additional flows from the development have been completed; or

• a development and infrastructure phasing plan has been agreed with the Local Authority in consultation with Thames Water to allow development to be occupied. 

• Where a development and infrastructure phasing plan is agreed no occupation shall take place other than in accordance with the agreed development and infrastructure phasing plan.

Reason – Sewage Treatment Upgrades are likely to be required to accommodate the proposed development.

In Thames Water's response to the Woollam Park proposal:

An upgrade scheme is currently being finalised for our Maple Lodge STW to ensure a higher quality of treated effluent, reducing phosphorus levels entering the river to below an average level of 0.25mg/l*. We’ll also increase the capacity of the storm tanks. This will reduce the need for untreated sewage discharges during storm conditions. We currently plan to complete this work in 2030. 

Many thanks to SOS member Christopher Ward for inspiring us to find out where our sewage ends up!