Scharding Wastewater Treatment Plant, Neuhaus am Inn, Austria

The Scharding wastewater treatment plant is located in Neuhaus am Inn, in the state of Bavaria, Germany, near the Austrian border. It serves a population of around 13,777 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under European Union regulations. As a plant of this scale, it is expected to comply with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater bodies. The regulatory framework ensures that facilities serving over 10,000 population equivalents must meet stringent effluent standards to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the Inn River, which flows into the Danube River and eventually reaches the Black Sea. The Inn River is an important ecological corridor, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a migratory route for fish species. The plant's operation helps maintain the ecological health of this transboundary river system.

The Scharding plant discharges into the Inn River, a major tributary of the Danube. The Danube basin is one of Europe's most significant river systems, supporting a wide range of habitats and species. The Inn River itself flows through alpine and pre-alpine regions, contributing to the ecological diversity of the area. Downstream, the Danube reaches the Black Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with sensitive ecosystems. The plant's treatment performance is critical to preventing nutrient pollution and maintaining water quality in this interconnected watershed.