Itegem Wastewater Treatment Plant, Heist-op-den-Berg, Antwerp, Belgium

Itegem wastewater treatment plant is located in the Bernum area of Itegem, part of Heist-op-den-Berg municipality in the province of Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,000 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU directive for inland freshwater discharges. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The plant's designed capacity is 5,850 m³/day, with an average daily discharge of 536.25 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters within the Scheldt basin, which flows through Flanders and into the North Sea via the Western Scheldt estuary. The plant's advanced treatment helps safeguard the ecological health of the downstream river system and the coastal marine environment.

The plant discharges into the Nete River basin, a sub-basin of the Scheldt River, which ultimately drains into the North Sea. The Scheldt estuary is an ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.