BLACKRIDGE WWTW - Westrigg, Scotland Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant

BLACKRIDGE WWTW is a wastewater treatment plant located in Westrigg, West Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom. It serves a population of approximately 2,161 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Scottish Water's management. The plant is situated near the A89 road and lies within 10 km of the coast, indicating a coastal discharge context. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) for discharges to coastal waters in the UK. With a designed capacity of 2,992 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 481.11 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity. The regulatory framework for this plant is governed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), which issues permits under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water environment, ultimately reaching the Firth of Forth, an estuary of the River Forth that flows into the North Sea. This coastal discharge supports the ecological health of the estuary, which is important for migratory birds and marine life. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and protect the sensitive coastal ecosystem.

BLACKRIDGE WWTW discharges treated wastewater into the local catchment, which drains into the River Almond and then the Firth of Forth, a major estuary on Scotland's east coast. The Firth of Forth supports diverse aquatic life, including seals, seabirds, and fish species, and is an important migratory corridor. The plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient and organic pollution, safeguarding the estuary's ecological balance.