Overview
Zirl wastewater treatment plant serves Kematen in Tirol, Austria, with a population equivalent of 46,454. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, ensuring secondary treatment for this medium-sized agglomeration.
The Zirl wastewater treatment plant is located in Kematen in Tirol, in the Tirol region of Austria. It serves a population equivalent of 46,454, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Inn River, which flows through the Inn Valley. As an Austrian facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication. The plant's treatment process and capacity are designed to meet these regulatory standards, ensuring compliance with national and EU water quality goals. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Inn River, a major tributary of the Danube. The Inn River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Alpine region. The Danube ultimately flows into the Black Sea, making the plant's operations part of a larger transboundary water management framework. Proper treatment helps protect downstream ecosystems and water quality.
Environmental context
The Zirl plant discharges into the Inn River, which flows through the Inn Valley and joins the Danube near Passau, Germany. The Danube then empties into the Black Sea. The Inn River supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as grayling and brown trout, and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive Alpine river system.
Frequently asked questions
The Zirl wastewater treatment plant is located in Kematen in Tirol, in the Bezirk Innsbruck-Land district of Tirol, Austria. It serves the surrounding communities along the Inn River valley.
The Zirl plant serves a population equivalent of 46,454 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated wastewater from the Zirl plant is discharged into the Inn River, which flows through the Inn Valley and eventually joins the Danube River.
As an Austrian wastewater treatment plant, Zirl operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and may require advanced treatment in sensitive areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 people are typically required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment). In sensitive areas, such as those near Alpine rivers, tertiary treatment may be required to reduce nutrients.
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