Overview
Ertvelde wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 9,000 people in Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
The Ertvelde wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Evergem, near the city of Ghent in the province of Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium. It serves a population of approximately 9,000 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU regulations. As a Belgian plant, Ertvelde operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000 discharging into freshwater or estuaries. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating it is sized appropriately for its service population. The treated effluent from Ertvelde is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Belgium and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The Scheldt estuary is an ecologically important area supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory bird populations. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this sensitive watershed.
Environmental context
The Ertvelde plant discharges into the local water network that feeds into the Scheldt River basin. The Scheldt flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea, a vital marine ecosystem. The estuary supports diverse aquatic life and serves as an important migratory corridor for birds. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and maintain ecological balance in this downstream environment.
Frequently asked questions
The Ertvelde wastewater treatment plant is located in the village of Ertvelde, part of the municipality of Evergem, in the province of Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Its address is Verbindingspad, Ertvelde, 9940.
The Ertvelde wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 9,000 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU classification.
The treated effluent from the Ertvelde plant is discharged into local waterways that are part of the Scheldt River basin. The Scheldt flows through Belgium and the Netherlands into the North Sea.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000 discharging into freshwater or estuaries are required to have secondary treatment. The Ertvelde plant, serving 9,000 people, falls into this category and must comply with these standards.
In Belgium, wastewater treatment plants serving around 9,000 people typically employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or biological filtration. This level of treatment is mandated by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
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