Overview
Cookstown wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 19,800 residents in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The facility discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the Neagh Bann river basin district.
Cookstown wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility located on Castle Road in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Serving a population of around 19,800, the plant is part of the region's essential water infrastructure managed under UK and Northern Ireland environmental regulations. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to meet secondary treatment standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which has been retained in UK law. The facility operates within the regulatory framework of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, which issues discharge consents and monitors compliance with water quality objectives. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local river system, which flows into Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. Lough Neagh supports diverse aquatic life and is an important resource for drinking water, recreation, and fisheries. The broader Neagh Bann catchment drains to the Atlantic Ocean via the River Bann.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters a tributary of the River Ballinderry, which flows into Lough Neagh. Lough Neagh is a large, shallow lake that supports internationally important populations of waterbirds and fish species such as pollan and eel. The lake's ecosystem is sensitive to nutrient inputs, making effective wastewater treatment critical for maintaining water quality and ecological balance in the downstream Neagh Bann river basin.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Castle Road in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, within the Mid-Ulster District Council area.
The plant serves approximately 19,800 residents in Cookstown and the surrounding area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a tributary of the River Ballinderry, which flows into Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), retained in UK law, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency issues discharge consents and enforces compliance.
Under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent typically require secondary treatment. For sensitive areas, more stringent tertiary treatment may be mandated to protect receiving waters.
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