Kermt Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium

Kermt wastewater treatment plant is located in the Spalbeek district of Hasselt, in the Limburg province of Flanders, Belgium. The plant serves a population of approximately 6,400 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. As a Belgian facility, Kermt operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication. The treated effluent from Kermt 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 plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Demer River and its tributaries, which support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional biodiversity.

Kermt's treated wastewater enters the Demer River, a tributary of the Dijle, which flows into the Rupel and then the Scheldt River. The Scheldt estuary is a vital ecological corridor for migratory fish and supports a rich diversity of invertebrates and birds. The plant helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in downstream waters, including the North Sea.