Stoke-on-Trent - Strongford

Stoke-on-Trent - Strongford

Strongford, located near Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent, is a regional sludge treatment centre for Severn Trent. It handles both local and imported sludge.

To increase capacity and reduce reliance on smaller sites, Severn Trent added a second thermal hydrolysis plant (THP) at Strongford in 2020, following earlier success at the utility's Minworth site. The upgrade included digester improvements and a new liquor treatment plant, integrated into existing infrastructure.

THP has improved sludge reduction and energy recovery, with biogas production expected to rise by about 16 GWh per year. This biogas is used for on-site power and upgraded to biomethane for the gas grid. The site is also expected to cut annual carbon emissions by around 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.

In 2023, Severn Trent announced plans for Strongford to become the world’s first retrofitted carbon-neutral wastewater treatment facility.