Neufelden Wastewater Treatment Plant: Advanced Treatment in Oberösterreich, Austria

The Neufelden wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Neufelden, Bezirk Rohrbach, in the state of Oberösterreich, Austria. It serves a population of 1,156, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated in a rural, inland area of the Mühlviertel region. As an advanced treatment facility, Neufelden goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,500 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 363.40 m³/day, indicating significant reserve capacity. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Danube River basin. The Danube is a major European river flowing into the Black Sea, and its tributaries in Upper Austria support diverse aquatic ecosystems. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in the Danube and the Black Sea.

The Neufelden plant discharges into a small tributary of the Große Mühl River, which flows into the Danube River near the German border. The Danube then travels through Central and Eastern Europe before reaching the Black Sea. The region's watershed supports sensitive aquatic habitats, including spawning grounds for fish species. Advanced treatment at Neufelden reduces phosphorus and nitrogen loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies and the Black Sea.