Feldbach Raabau Wastewater Treatment Plant, Feldbach, Styria, Austria

The Feldbach Raabau wastewater treatment plant is located in Leitersdorf im Raabtal, part of the municipality of Feldbach in the Bezirk Südoststeiermark, Styria, Austria. The plant serves a population of approximately 20,767, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. As an Austrian facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these standards, ensuring compliance with national and EU water quality regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Raab River. The Raab flows through southeastern Austria and Hungary before joining the Rába River and eventually the Danube. This waterway supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant's operation helps protect the water quality of the Raab and downstream ecosystems.

The Feldbach Raabau plant discharges into the Raab River, which flows through the Styrian region and into Hungary, where it joins the Rába River and eventually the Danube. The Raab River supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for aquatic invertebrates. The surrounding watershed is characterized by agricultural land use, making nutrient removal important to prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies.