Portglenone Wastewater Treatment Plant, Clady, Northern Ireland

Portglenone wastewater treatment plant is located in Clady, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, serving a population of around 3,476. The plant is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, managed under the UK's regulatory oversight. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for inland discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,045 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 773.88 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well within its capacity. Treated effluent is discharged into the local water environment, ultimately contributing to the River Bann catchment, which flows into Lough Neagh and then to the Atlantic Ocean via the Bann estuary. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this ecologically important river system.

The plant discharges into the River Bann catchment, which drains into Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. Lough Neagh supports diverse aquatic life and is an important habitat for birds and fish. The river system ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the Bann estuary, a coastal zone that sustains migratory fish species and estuarine ecosystems. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the downstream lake and coastal waters.