Overview
Kinnegar wastewater treatment plant serves Holywood, Northern Ireland, treating wastewater for approximately 73,000 people. The facility is located near the coast of Belfast Lough.
Kinnegar is a wastewater treatment plant located in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, within the Ards and North Down District Council area. It serves a population of around 73,000, making it a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU classifications. As a plant in the United Kingdom, Kinnegar operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) transposed into UK law. For agglomerations of this size, the directive typically requires secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megalitres per day or similar units), indicating its scale. The plant discharges into the local water environment, ultimately reaching Belfast Lough, a sea inlet of the Irish Sea. Belfast Lough supports diverse marine life and is an important area for migratory birds. The plant's operations are crucial for protecting water quality in this coastal ecosystem.
Environmental context
Kinnegar discharges into the coastal waters of Belfast Lough, which flows into the Irish Sea. The lough is a semi-enclosed marine inlet that supports a variety of habitats, including mudflats and saltmarshes, and is used by overwintering waterfowl. Protecting water quality here is vital for maintaining the ecological health of the lough and the broader Irish Sea.
Frequently asked questions
Kinnegar wastewater treatment plant is located in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, near the shores of Belfast Lough.
Kinnegar serves approximately 73,000 people in the Holywood area and surrounding communities.
Kinnegar discharges treated wastewater into the coastal waters of Belfast Lough, which flows into the Irish Sea.
As a UK plant, Kinnegar operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size, with possible tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
For a plant serving around 73,000 people, the UWWTD typically mandates secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum. If the receiving waters are sensitive, tertiary treatment (e. g. , nutrient removal) may be required.
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