Overview
Tessenderlo wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 36,200 people in Limburg, Belgium. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Tessenderlo wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Tessenderlo, within the province of Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Serving a population of around 36,200, it is classified as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a Belgian facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving water body is designated as a sensitive area. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Belgium and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The Scheldt estuary supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor for migratory fish species.
Environmental context
The Tessenderlo plant discharges into the local water network that feeds into the Demer River, a tributary of the Dijle, which joins the Rupel and then the Scheldt River. The Scheldt flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The downstream environment includes the Scheldt estuary, a vital habitat for fish and bird species, and the plant's nutrient removal helps protect this sensitive ecosystem from eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
The Tessenderlo wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Tessenderlo, in the province of Limburg, within the Flemish Region of Belgium.
The Tessenderlo WWTP serves approximately 36,200 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated wastewater from Tessenderlo is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Demer River, part of the Scheldt River basin, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
As a Belgian facility, the Tessenderlo WWTP operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of its size and may require tertiary treatment if the receiving water is sensitive.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent are required to have at least secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, more stringent treatment (tertiary) may be mandated to reduce nutrients.
Nearby plants