Marktgemeinde Grafenstein Wastewater Treatment Plant, Grafenstein, Kärnten

Marktgemeinde Grafenstein is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Grafenstein, Bezirk Klagenfurt-Land, Kärnten, Austria. The plant serves a population of 1,682 and has a designed capacity of 2,650 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 262.20 m³/day. As an advanced treatment facility, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For small agglomerations like Grafenstein, the directive requires appropriate treatment before discharge into inland waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Drava River basin, ultimately reaching the Danube River and the Black Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Drava River basin, which flows through Kärnten and into the Danube River system, eventually reaching the Black Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality.