Overview
Magherafelt Killyneese wastewater treatment plant serves Castledawson, Northern Ireland, with a population equivalent of 15,933. The facility operates under UK and EU regulatory frameworks for wastewater treatment.
Magherafelt Killyneese is a wastewater treatment plant located in Castledawson, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It serves a population equivalent of approximately 15,933, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and discharges into local watercourses. As a UK facility, the plant operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) transposed into UK law. For agglomerations of this size, the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, with more stringent requirements if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megaliters per day or similar units), indicating a moderate scale of operation. The treated effluent from Magherafelt Killyneese ultimately drains into the River Moyola, which flows into Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. Lough Neagh supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological site. The plant plays a key role in protecting this downstream environment from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the River Moyola, which flows into Lough Neagh, a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Lough Neagh supports a rich ecosystem, including fish populations and migratory birds. The lake is sensitive to nutrient enrichment, making effective wastewater treatment critical for maintaining water quality and ecological balance in the region.
Frequently asked questions
Magherafelt Killyneese is located in Castledawson, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The address is Castledawson Toome Bypass, Castledawson, Mid-Ulster District Council.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 15,933, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU wastewater treatment directives.
Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the River Moyola, which flows into Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles.
As a UK plant, it operates under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size, with additional requirements for sensitive areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent typically require secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and nutrients.
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