Overview
Hitzendorf wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 12,500 people in Steiermark, Austria. The facility operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
Hitzendorf wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Hitzendorf, in the Bezirk Graz-Umgebung, Steiermark, Austria. The plant serves a population of approximately 12,500, 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 with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 15,000. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that drain into the Mur River, a major tributary of the Drava River, which ultimately flows into the Danube River and the Black Sea. The facility plays a key role in protecting the water quality of these downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters local streams that feed into the Mur River, which flows through the city of Graz and continues southeast to join the Drava River near the Croatian border. The Drava then flows into the Danube, which empties into the Black Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in central Europe. The region's moderate climate and agricultural land use mean that nutrient removal is a key concern for maintaining downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The Hitzendorf wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Hitzendorf, in the Bezirk Graz-Umgebung, Steiermark, Austria.
The plant serves approximately 12,457 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated wastewater is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Mur River, a major tributary of the Drava and Danube rivers, eventually reaching the Black Sea.
As an Austrian facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which sets treatment standards based on population served and the sensitivity of receiving waters.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 15,000 are required to have secondary treatment. If the receiving waters are sensitive, tertiary treatment may be required.
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