Overview
ARA Frankenfels is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Frankenfels, Niederösterreich, Austria, serving a population of 1,502. It has a designed capacity of 2,600 m³/day and discharges 269.39 m³/day of treated effluent.
ARA Frankenfels is a wastewater treatment facility located in the municipality of Frankenfels, within the Bezirk St. Pölten district of Niederösterreich, Austria. The plant serves a small population of 1,502 residents and is classified as a small agglomeration under Austrian and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for sensitive areas. With a designed capacity of 2,600 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 269.39 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating robust infrastructure for current demand. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Danube River basin, contributing to the protection of the Black Sea ecosystem. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and supports the ecological health of downstream waters.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams that flow into the Pielach River, a tributary of the Danube. The Danube carries water through Austria and several other countries before reaching the Black Sea. The advanced treatment reduces phosphorus and nitrogen loads, which is critical for preventing eutrophication in the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. The surrounding region features forested hills and agricultural areas, making nutrient control important for local water quality.
Frequently asked questions
ARA Frankenfels is located in the municipality of Frankenfels, in the Bezirk St. Pölten district of Niederösterreich, Austria.
The plant serves a population of 1,502 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater directives.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Pielach River, a tributary of the Danube River, which ultimately reaches the Black Sea.
ARA Frankenfels employs advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment. This is typical for plants in sensitive areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
As an Austrian plant, ARA Frankenfels operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for all agglomerations and advanced treatment for sensitive areas. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds these requirements.
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