LEEMING BAR STW - Leeming, North Yorkshire Wastewater Treatment Plant

LEEMING BAR STW is a wastewater treatment works located in Leeming, a village in North Yorkshire, England. The facility serves a population equivalent of 9,352, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under UK and EU regulatory frameworks. It is situated inland, approximately 50 km from the coast. As a UK wastewater treatment plant, LEEMING BAR STW operates under 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 unless the receiving waters are designated as sensitive, in which case more stringent treatment may apply. Regulatory compliance ensures appropriate treatment standards are met. The treated effluent from LEEMING BAR STW is discharged into local watercourses that form part of the River Swale catchment. The Swale flows through the Yorkshire Dales and eventually joins the River Ure, which becomes the River Ouse, draining into the Humber Estuary and the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of these rivers, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

LEEMING BAR STW discharges into the River Swale catchment, a tributary of the River Ure within the Humber basin. The Swale supports diverse freshwater habitats, including populations of salmon and trout. The plant's effluent contributes to the overall nutrient load in the catchment, which ultimately drains to the Humber Estuary, a ecologically important area for migratory birds and fish. Effective treatment helps maintain water quality standards in this sensitive river system.