Loughrea Waste Water Treatment Plant | County Galway, Ireland | Municipal Wastewater Facility

Loughrea Waste Water Treatment Plant is a municipal facility located in County Galway, Ireland, serving the Loughrea area. The plant treats wastewater from a population equivalent of approximately 6,236, placing it in the small agglomeration category under EU classifications. As an Irish wastewater treatment facility, the plant operates under the European Union (Urban Waste Water Treatment) Regulations 2001, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size, the directive requires at least secondary treatment, with appropriate nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousand cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating it is sized for the local population. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local water environment, ultimately draining into the Atlantic Ocean via Galway Bay. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are part of the wider Corrib catchment. Proper treatment helps protect the ecological health of these waters, which are important for local biodiversity and recreational use.

The plant discharges into the local water system that flows through County Galway and eventually reaches Galway Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. The bay supports diverse marine life, including fish, shellfish, and seabirds, and is an important area for commercial fishing and tourism. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect the ecological balance of this coastal environment.