Overview
Blessington Waste Water Treatment Plant serves County Wicklow, Ireland, treating wastewater for approximately 6,913 people. The plant operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive standards.
Blessington Waste Water Treatment Plant is located in County Wicklow, Ireland, serving the local community with a population equivalent of approximately 6,913. The facility is situated in the Municipal District of Baltinglass, near Poulaphouca House and Falls, and plays a key role in managing wastewater for this region of Leinster. As a plant serving a medium agglomeration, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater bodies. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousand cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating its scale. Irish wastewater treatment plants are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local water environment, which ultimately drains into the Irish Sea via the River Liffey catchment. The receiving waters support aquatic life and are part of a broader ecosystem that includes the Poulaphouca Reservoir, a key water resource for Dublin. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and biodiversity.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the River Liffey catchment, which flows through County Wicklow and Kildare before reaching Dublin Bay and the Irish Sea. The Poulaphouca Reservoir, formed by the River Liffey, is an important freshwater habitat and a source of drinking water for Dublin. Downstream ecosystems include estuarine and coastal environments that support diverse aquatic species. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect these sensitive waters.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in County Wicklow, Ireland, near Poulaphouca House and Falls in the Municipal District of Baltinglass. Its address is Poulaphouca House & Falls, Blakestown Lower, Burgage ED, County Wicklow.
The plant serves approximately 6,913 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the River Liffey catchment, which flows through County Wicklow and Kildare before reaching Dublin Bay and the Irish Sea.
As an Irish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater. The Irish EPA regulates the plant under the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations.
For a medium agglomeration (population 2,000-10,000) in Ireland, the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive requires secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
Nearby plants