Overview
Cavan Waste Water Treatment Plant serves the town of Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland, with a population equivalent of 30,760. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Cavan Waste Water Treatment Plant is a municipal facility located in Cavan Town Greenway, Cavan Rural ED, County Cavan, Ireland. It serves a population equivalent of 30,760, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category under EU regulations. The plant is situated in the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District, within the Ulster province. As an Irish wastewater treatment plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes and capacity are designed to meet these regulatory standards, ensuring compliance with national and EU environmental objectives. The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the River Erne catchment, which flows north into Lough Erne and then to the Atlantic Ocean via the River Erne estuary. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The plant's operation helps protect the water quality of the Erne system, which is used for recreation, fisheries, and as a drinking water source downstream.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the River Erne catchment, which flows through County Cavan and into Lough Erne, a large lake system straddling the border with Northern Ireland. The Erne system ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via Donegal Bay. This watershed supports salmonid fisheries, diverse aquatic habitats, and is an important ecological corridor for migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this system is critical for maintaining its ecological integrity and supporting local communities that rely on it for recreation and tourism.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Cavan Town Greenway, Cavan Rural ED, Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland, in the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 30,760, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that are part of the River Erne catchment, which flows into Lough Erne and eventually the Atlantic Ocean.
As an Irish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent, with potential for tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving 30,000 people typically require secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum. If the receiving waters are sensitive, additional nutrient removal may be required.
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