Braunau Wastewater Treatment Plant, Braunau am Inn, Austria

The Braunau wastewater treatment plant is located in Braunau am Inn, a town in the state of Oberösterreich, Austria, near the border with Germany. The facility serves a population of approximately 32,293, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated along the Inn River, which flows into the Danube. As an Austrian plant, Braunau operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. For larger populations or sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated. It is expected to meet the directive's standards for biological treatment and nutrient removal where applicable. The treated effluent is discharged into the Inn River, a major tributary of the Danube. The Danube basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical waterway for Central Europe. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in the Inn and Danube rivers, contributing to the ecological health of the region.

The plant discharges into the Inn River, which flows into the Danube River, ultimately reaching the Black Sea. The Danube basin is a vital ecological corridor supporting diverse fish species and migratory birds. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this sensitive river system, which is used for drinking water, recreation, and agriculture downstream.