Overview
Leixlip Waste Water Treatment Plant serves over 100,000 people in Lucan, County Dublin, Ireland. It discharges into the River Liffey, which flows into Dublin Bay.
Leixlip Waste Water Treatment Plant is a major municipal facility serving the Lucan area of County Dublin, Ireland, with a population equivalent of over 100,000. Located in the Liffey Valley, the plant is part of the region's critical wastewater infrastructure. As a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the plant is required to provide secondary treatment and, given the sensitivity of Dublin Bay, likely includes nutrient removal to protect the receiving waters. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (units unspecified), indicating it is sized for the population served. The treated effluent is discharged into the River Liffey, which flows eastward through Dublin and into Dublin Bay, a coastal ecosystem supporting diverse marine life and important for recreation and fisheries. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in the Liffey catchment and downstream coastal environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the River Liffey, which drains into Dublin Bay on the Irish Sea. Dublin Bay is an ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse aquatic life, including important bird populations and marine habitats. The Liffey catchment is heavily urbanized in its lower reaches, making effective wastewater treatment essential for protecting downstream water quality and coastal ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in the Liffey Valley, near Leixlip Road in Lucan, County Dublin, Ireland. It serves the Lucan-St. Helens area and surrounding communities.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 100,309 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the River Liffey, which flows eastward through Dublin and into Dublin Bay on the Irish Sea.
As an Irish plant serving over 100,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and, for sensitive areas like Dublin Bay, tertiary nutrient removal.
Plants of this scale in Ireland typically provide secondary biological treatment, often with nutrient reduction (nitrogen and phosphorus removal) to meet EU standards for sensitive coastal waters like Dublin Bay.
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