Reichenau Wastewater Treatment Plant, Haibach im Mühlkreis, Oberösterreich

The Reichenau wastewater treatment plant is located in Haibach im Mühlkreis, a municipality in the Bezirk Urfahr-Umgebung of Oberösterreich, Austria. This facility serves a population of 1,819 and is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, ensuring compliance with national and EU standards. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 2,567 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 474.65 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity. As an Austrian facility, it adheres to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires advanced treatment for sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Danube River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Danube and its tributaries, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream communities.

The plant discharges into the Danube River basin, which flows through Central and Eastern Europe before reaching the Black Sea. The Danube supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting the river from eutrophication and maintaining ecological balance in the downstream environment.