Edenderry Waste Water Treatment Plant: Serving County Offaly, Ireland

Edenderry Waste Water Treatment Plant is a municipal facility located in Edenderry, County Offaly, in the Irish midlands. It serves a population of approximately 7,372 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and discharges into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the River Shannon system. As an Irish wastewater treatment plant, it operates under the European Union Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for collection and treatment based on population size and receiving water sensitivity. The plant's design capacity and operational status are part of the national regulatory framework overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland. The treated effluent from the plant enters local rivers that feed into the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river, which flows through the Shannon Estuary into the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding region includes agricultural land and peatlands, and the plant plays a role in protecting water quality in the Shannon catchment, which supports diverse aquatic life and is important for recreation and tourism.

The plant discharges into local watercourses that are part of the River Shannon basin, Ireland's largest river system. The Shannon flows through Lough Derg and Lough Ree before reaching the Shannon Estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The catchment supports diverse aquatic habitats, including salmonid fisheries and wetland areas. Protecting water quality in this system is critical for maintaining ecological balance and supporting downstream communities and industries.