Kirkby Lonsdale STW Humus Tank Effluent - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in England

Kirkby Lonsdale STW Humus Tank Effluent is a wastewater treatment plant located in Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland and Furness, England. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,014 people and has a designed capacity of 2,182 m³/day, currently treating 448.39 m³/day of wastewater. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. It operates under the UK's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's humus tank effluent indicates a conventional activated sludge process with final settlement. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse, likely the River Lune or a tributary, which flows into Morecambe Bay and the Irish Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Lune catchment, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the River Lune catchment, which flows through the Yorkshire Dales and into Morecambe Bay, a large intertidal area of ecological importance. The bay supports diverse birdlife and marine species, making it a sensitive environment. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, protecting the river's health and the downstream estuary.