POOL STW Wastewater Treatment Plant, Leeds, England

POOL STW is a wastewater treatment plant located near Arthington in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It serves a population of approximately 4,492 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under UK and EU wastewater directives. However, as a small-scale facility in the United Kingdom, it is subject to the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994, which implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. For agglomerations of this size, secondary treatment is typically required unless the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The treated effluent from POOL STW is discharged into the local water environment, likely contributing to the River Wharfe catchment, which flows into the Ouse and eventually the Humber Estuary. The plant plays a role in protecting water quality in this ecologically important river system, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation.

The plant discharges into the River Wharfe catchment, part of the larger Ouse basin that drains into the Humber Estuary. The River Wharfe is a key habitat for salmon and other fish species, and its water quality is important for both ecology and human use. The Humber Estuary is a major ecological site supporting migratory birds and fish, and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its biodiversity.