Overview
Merksem wastewater treatment plant serves 37,100 people in Antwerpen, Belgium. Located near the Scheldt River, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Merksem is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Merksem district of Antwerpen, Belgium. It serves a population of approximately 37,100 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification. The plant is situated in the Flanders region, near the Port of Antwerp. As a Belgian facility, Merksem operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication. The plant discharges treated effluent into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Antwerp and into the North Sea via the Western Scheldt estuary. This estuary is an ecologically important area that supports diverse aquatic life and serves as a migratory corridor for fish and birds. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its discharge can influence coastal water quality.
Environmental context
Merksem WWTP discharges into the Scheldt River, which flows through Antwerp and into the North Sea via the Western Scheldt estuary. This estuary is a dynamic ecosystem that supports diverse aquatic life, including fish and bird species, and serves as an important migratory corridor. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its nutrient and pollutant loads can affect coastal water quality and the health of the North Sea marine environment.
Frequently asked questions
Merksem WWTP is located in the Merksem district of Antwerpen, in the Flanders region of Belgium. Its address is near the Bypass R1 in Antwerpen-Noord.
The plant serves approximately 37,100 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Antwerp and eventually reaches the North Sea via the Western Scheldt estuary.
As a Belgian plant, Merksem operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of its size and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalents are required to have at least secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, such as those discharging into the North Sea, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal may also be required.
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