Overview
Grafendorf wastewater treatment plant in Seibersdorf am Hammerwald, Steiermark, Austria, serves 2,721 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 414 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 2,600 m³/day.
The Grafendorf wastewater treatment plant is located in Seibersdorf am Hammerwald, a locality within the municipality of Grafendorf bei Hartberg in the district of Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Steiermark, Austria. The plant serves a population of 2,721 and is classified as an advanced treatment facility, reflecting a high level of nutrient removal and effluent quality. As an advanced treatment plant, Grafendorf goes beyond the secondary treatment requirements mandated by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity of 2,600 m³/day accommodates current flows, with an average daily discharge of 414 m³. This indicates ample reserve capacity for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Danube River basin, contributing to the Black Sea watershed. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, particularly in the context of Austria's sensitive Alpine and pre-Alpine environments, where advanced treatment helps prevent eutrophication in downstream rivers and lakes.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams that feed into the Lafnitz River, a tributary of the Raab River, which flows into the Danube and eventually the Black Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a region with sensitive ecosystems, including riparian habitats and wetlands that benefit from the plant's advanced nutrient removal, reducing the risk of algal blooms and oxygen depletion downstream.
Frequently asked questions
The Grafendorf wastewater treatment plant is located in Seibersdorf am Hammerwald, a locality in the municipality of Grafendorf bei Hartberg, in the district of Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Steiermark, Austria.
The plant serves a population of 2,721 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Lafnitz River, part of the Raab River system, which eventually reaches the Danube and the Black Sea.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment, in line with EU standards for sensitive areas.
Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000 require secondary treatment. Grafendorf, serving 2,721, meets this requirement and exceeds it with advanced treatment, which is typical for plants in sensitive catchments like those in Austria.
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