Overview
Houthalen Centrum wastewater treatment plant serves Houthalen, Belgium, treating wastewater for approximately 18,500 residents. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Houthalen Centrum is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Houthalen, Limburg, Belgium. Serving a population of around 18,500, it is classified as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the E314 highway and Laambroekvijver, a local pond. As a Belgian facility, Houthalen Centrum operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also requires appropriate treatment before discharge into sensitive areas. The plant meets the regulatory standards for its population tier. The treated effluent from Houthalen Centrum likely discharges into local water bodies that drain into the Meuse River basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality and supporting the ecological health of downstream environments.
Environmental context
Houthalen Centrum discharges into local waterways that are part of the Meuse River basin, which flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The region's aquatic ecosystems support diverse species and are important for migratory fish. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this sensitive river basin.
Frequently asked questions
Houthalen Centrum is located in Houthalen, Limburg, Belgium, near the E314 highway and Laambroekvijver pond.
The plant serves approximately 18,500 residents, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that are part of the Meuse River basin, ultimately flowing to the North Sea.
As a plant serving over 15,000 people, Houthalen Centrum is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment and, if in a sensitive area, more advanced treatment.
In Belgium, plants of this scale typically provide at least secondary biological treatment, as mandated by the EU directive, to reduce organic matter and nutrients before discharge.
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