Kluisbergen Wastewater Treatment Plant, Avelgem, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

The Kluisbergen wastewater treatment plant is located in Avelgem, within the province of West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. It serves a population of approximately 4,200 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas. The facility provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU directive for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,600 m³/day and currently discharges 750.75 m³/day of treated wastewater, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that are part of the Scheldt River basin. The Scheldt flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, contributing to the health of the downstream estuary and coastal waters.

The plant discharges into the Scheldt River basin, which drains into the North Sea via the Western Scheldt estuary. This estuary is ecologically sensitive, supporting migratory fish and bird species. Advanced treatment at Kluisbergen reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loads, helping to mitigate eutrophication risks in the downstream marine environment.