Overview
Traunsee Nord wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 93,000 people in Oberthalham, Austria. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates advanced treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalen
Traunsee Nord is a wastewater treatment plant located in Oberthalham, a locality in the municipality of Ohlsdorf, Bezirk Gmunden, Oberösterreich, Austria. The plant serves a population of approximately 93,169, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a facility serving over 10,000 population equivalent, Traunsee Nord is required to meet the standards of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive mandates secondary biological treatment as a minimum, and for sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal. The regulatory framework ensures a high level of effluent quality. The treated wastewater from Traunsee Nord is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Danube River basin and then into the Black Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the Traunsee lake and downstream aquatic ecosystems from nutrient pollution and organic loads, supporting biodiversity and water quality in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Traun River catchment, which flows into the Traunsee lake and then into the Danube River, eventually reaching the Black Sea. The region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as an important corridor for migratory fish species. Nutrient removal is critical to prevent eutrophication in the lake and downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
Traunsee Nord is located in Oberthalham, a locality in the municipality of Ohlsdorf, Bezirk Gmunden, Oberösterreich, Austria.
The plant serves approximately 93,169 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Traun River, then into Traunsee lake, and eventually into the Danube River and the Black Sea.
As a plant serving over 10,000 population equivalent, Traunsee Nord must comply with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas to protect water quality.
For agglomerations of this size in Austria, typical treatment includes secondary biological treatment with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to meet stringent EU standards, especially in sensitive catchments like the Danube basin.
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