ELLON WWTP - Ellon, Aberdeenshire Wastewater Treatment Plant

ELLON WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It serves a population of around 11,200 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under Scottish Water's management. The plant is situated near the River Ythan, which flows into the North Sea. As a Scottish wastewater treatment plant, ELLON WWTP operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megalitres per day or similar unit), indicating a moderate treatment capacity. The treated effluent from ELLON WWTP is discharged into the River Ythan, which is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for its freshwater pearl mussel population and salmonid habitats. The river flows through the Ythan Estuary, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), before reaching the North Sea. The plant's discharge must meet strict environmental standards to protect these sensitive ecosystems.

ELLON WWTP discharges into the River Ythan, which flows through the Ythan Estuary and into the North Sea. The Ythan is an ecologically sensitive river supporting Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and freshwater pearl mussels. The estuary is a key habitat for migratory birds and waders. The plant's operations are critical to maintaining water quality in this protected environment, where nutrient enrichment from wastewater could impact aquatic life.