Overview
Hittisau wastewater treatment plant in Vorarlberg, Austria serves 2,733 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 928.77 m³/day of treated effluent, with a designed capacity of 3,833 m³/day.
The Hittisau wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Hittisau, in the Bregenz district of Vorarlberg, Austria. It serves a population of 2,733, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Austrian and EU regulations. The plant is situated in the Bolgenach valley, part of the Alpine region. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, going beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,833 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 928.77 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity, indicating efficient management and potential for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Bolgenach stream, a tributary of the Weißach River. The Weißach flows into the Bregenzer Ach, which empties into Lake Constance (Bodensee), a major drinking water reservoir for the region. The advanced treatment helps protect this sensitive alpine watershed and the lake's ecosystem.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Bolgenach stream, which flows into the Weißach River, then the Bregenzer Ach, and finally into Lake Constance. Lake Constance is a critical drinking water source for millions and supports diverse aquatic life, including endemic fish species. The advanced treatment level ensures minimal nutrient and pollutant loading, protecting the lake from eutrophication and maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive alpine watershed.
Frequently asked questions
The Hittisau wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Hittisau, in the Bregenz district of Vorarlberg, Austria. It is situated in the Bolgenach valley, an alpine region near the border with Germany.
The Hittisau wastewater treatment plant serves a population of 2,733 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated wastewater from the Hittisau plant is discharged into the Bolgenach stream, which flows into the Weißach River, then the Bregenzer Ach, and ultimately into Lake Constance.
The Hittisau plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. This includes nutrient removal to protect sensitive water bodies.
As an Austrian plant, Hittisau operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds these requirements, reflecting Austria's commitment to protecting alpine watersheds and Lake Constance.
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