Overview
Liedekerke wastewater treatment plant serves the Affligem area in Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium, treating wastewater for approximately 78,600 people under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The Liedekerke wastewater treatment plant is located in Affligem, within the Vlaams-Brabant province of Belgium. It serves a population of approximately 78,600, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU standards. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. As a Belgian facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. For populations exceeding 15,000, the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, with tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. It is expected to comply with national regulations aligned with EU standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies 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 region's water quality and supporting the ecological health of downstream aquatic environments, including the Scheldt estuary and the North Sea.
Environmental context
The Liedekerke plant discharges into the local watershed that feeds into the Dender River, a tributary of the Scheldt River. The Scheldt flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. This basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and contamination.
Frequently asked questions
The Liedekerke plant is located in Affligem, in the Vlaams-Brabant province of Belgium, near the town of Liedekerke.
The plant serves approximately 78,600 people, making it a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU classification.
The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that flow into the Dender River, a tributary of the Scheldt, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 15,000 people, with potential tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
Under the EU directive, plants of this scale are required to have at least secondary treatment. In Belgium, many such plants also incorporate tertiary treatment to meet stringent water quality standards, especially in sensitive catchments.
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