IRLAM STW - Salford, Greater Manchester Wastewater Treatment Plant

IRLAM STW is a wastewater treatment plant located on Lincoln Avenue in Cadishead, Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It serves a population of around 12,152 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its treated effluent is discharged into the local river system. As a UK wastewater facility, IRLAM STW is subject to the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994, which transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, and the plant's design capacity of 1.00 (likely in megalitres per day) suggests it is sized to handle the local population's wastewater. The plant is operated as part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. The treated effluent from IRLAM STW ultimately drains into the Manchester Ship Canal and then the River Mersey, which flows into the Irish Sea. This waterway supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in northwest England. The plant's operations help protect water quality in the Mersey catchment, which has seen significant environmental recovery in recent decades.

IRLAM STW discharges into the local river network that feeds the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey. The Mersey estuary and the Irish Sea receive the treated effluent, supporting a range of aquatic species and migratory birds. The catchment area is ecologically sensitive, with efforts ongoing to improve water quality and biodiversity.