Tauchental Wastewater Treatment Plant, Steirisch-Tauchen, Steiermark

Tauchental wastewater treatment plant is located in Steirisch-Tauchen, a locality in the municipality of Pinggau, Bezirk Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Steiermark, Austria. The plant serves a population of 1,701 and is classified as a small agglomeration under Austrian and EU regulations. The facility provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,500 m³/day and currently discharges 415.82 m³/day of treated wastewater, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Danube River basin, contributing to the protection of the Black Sea ecosystem. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, supporting water quality in downstream rivers and sensitive areas.

The plant discharges into small streams in the Feistritz valley, which flow into the Lafnitz River, a tributary of the Raab. The Raab River drains into the Danube near Győr, Hungary, ultimately reaching the Black Sea. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a migratory corridor for fish species. Advanced treatment at this plant helps minimize nutrient pollution, protecting downstream habitats.