Overview
Rathangan Waste Water Treatment Plant serves the town of Rathangan in County Kildare, Ireland. It treats wastewater from a population of approximately 2,779 under EU regulatory standards.
Rathangan Waste Water Treatment Plant is a municipal facility located in County Kildare, Ireland, serving the town of Rathangan and surrounding areas. The plant treats wastewater from a population of approximately 2,779, placing it in the small agglomeration category under EU regulations. As a plant in Ireland, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries for agglomerations of this size. The plant is expected to meet the directive's standards for organic matter and nutrient removal. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the River Barrow and then into the Irish Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Barrow catchment, which supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the River Barrow catchment, which flows into the Irish Sea via Waterford Harbour. The Barrow is a designated salmonid river and supports populations of Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and lamprey. The plant's operation helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system, which is part of the wider Barrow-Nore-Suir catchment area.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Rathangan, County Kildare, Ireland, near the town center and close to the River Barrow catchment.
The plant serves approximately 2,779 people in Rathangan and the surrounding area.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the River Barrow, which eventually reaches the Irish Sea.
As an Irish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for secondary treatment and nutrient removal for agglomerations of this size.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 people typically require secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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