Roosbeek Wastewater Treatment Plant, Boutersem, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium

Roosbeek wastewater treatment plant is located in Boutersem, within the Vlaams-Brabant province of Belgium. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,600 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). It is situated in the inland region of Flanders, away from the coast. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD 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 5,040 m³/day and currently discharges an average of 643.5 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent from Roosbeek is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Scheldt River basin. The Scheldt flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading into the river system, supporting water quality and aquatic ecosystems in the downstream watershed.

Roosbeek plant discharges into the local drainage network, which feeds into the Demer River, a tributary of the Dijle. The Dijle joins the Rupel, which flows into the Scheldt River. The Scheldt estuary is an ecologically important area, supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species. The advanced treatment at Roosbeek helps minimize nutrient pollution, protecting downstream water quality in the Scheldt basin and ultimately the North Sea.