Overview
Ben Rhydding STW is a secondary treatment plant in Bradford, England, serving approximately 4,140 people. It discharges treated wastewater into the local water environment, supporting the Wharfe catchment.
Ben Rhydding STW is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Burley-in-Wharfedale area of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It serves a population of around 4,140 people, making it a small-scale facility within the region's wastewater infrastructure. The plant is situated near the River Wharfe, a key watercourse in the Yorkshire Dales. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into freshwater. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity is 4,140 population equivalent, and it treats an average daily flow of approximately 922 cubic meters. The treated effluent from Ben Rhydding STW is discharged into the River Wharfe, which flows through Wharfedale and eventually joins the River Ouse near York. The River Wharfe supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and trout populations, and is an important recreational river. The plant's operation helps protect water quality in this sensitive river ecosystem.
Environmental context
Ben Rhydding STW discharges into the River Wharfe, which flows through the Yorkshire Dales and joins the River Ouse, ultimately reaching the Humber Estuary and the North Sea. The Wharfe is a designated salmonid river, supporting fish species sensitive to pollution. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality standards in this ecologically important catchment.
Frequently asked questions
Ben Rhydding STW is located in Burley-in-Wharfedale, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, near the River Wharfe.
The plant serves approximately 4,140 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater directives.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the River Wharfe, which flows through Wharfedale and joins the River Ouse.
Ben Rhydding STW provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required for freshwater discharges under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant operates under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent discharging into freshwater.
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