Overview
Ballina Waste Water Treatment Plant serves approximately 20,094 people in County Mayo, Ireland. The facility discharges treated effluent into the local water environment under Ireland's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Ballina Waste Water Treatment Plant is a municipal facility located in County Mayo, Ireland, serving the town of Ballina and surrounding areas. With a population equivalent of approximately 20,094, it is classified as a medium agglomeration under Irish and EU regulations. The plant is situated near the River Moy, a significant salmon fishery, and ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via Killala Bay. As an Irish wastewater treatment plant, Ballina operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater or estuaries. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per second or similar unit), indicating it is sized to handle the local population's wastewater flows. The plant's discharge is critical for protecting the River Moy, a designated salmonid river that supports Atlantic salmon and sea trout populations. The river flows north through Ballina and enters Killala Bay, a coastal inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. Effective treatment ensures that nutrient loads and pollutants are minimized, safeguarding aquatic life and supporting local tourism and fishing industries.
Environmental context
Ballina Waste Water Treatment Plant discharges into the River Moy, which flows through County Mayo and enters Killala Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. The River Moy is a renowned salmon fishery and supports diverse aquatic life, including Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and European eel. The plant's operations are crucial for maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system, which is also important for local recreation and tourism. Downstream, Killala Bay provides habitat for coastal birds and marine species, making effective wastewater treatment essential for both freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Fairy Trail in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, in the Ballina Municipal District. It serves the town of Ballina and surrounding areas.
The plant serves approximately 20,094 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under Irish and EU wastewater regulations.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the River Moy, which flows through Ballina and into Killala Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean.
As an Irish facility serving over 15,000 people, Ballina WWTP operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater and estuaries.
The River Moy is a designated salmonid river supporting Atlantic salmon and sea trout. The plant's treatment ensures that effluent does not harm this ecologically important fishery or the downstream Killala Bay ecosystem.