Overview
Westerlo wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 27,900 people in Antwerpen, Belgium. The facility operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Westerlo wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Westerlo, within the province of Antwerpen, Belgium. Serving a population of approximately 27,900, the facility is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, managing domestic sewage from the local community. As a medium-sized agglomeration in Belgium, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC. This directive requires secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these regulatory standards, ensuring compliance with Belgian and European environmental legislation. The treated effluent from the Westerlo plant is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Scheldt River basin. The Scheldt flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the water quality of these downstream environments, supporting aquatic life and reducing nutrient loads that could cause eutrophication in sensitive coastal areas.
Environmental context
The Westerlo plant discharges into the local water network that feeds into the Grote Nete River, a tributary of the Nete River, which joins the Rupel and then the Scheldt River. The Scheldt estuary flows through Belgium and the Netherlands to the North Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is important for migratory fish species. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system, which is subject to EU water quality standards under the Water Framework Directive.
Frequently asked questions
The Westerlo wastewater treatment plant is located in Westerlo, in the province of Antwerpen, Belgium. The address is Kwarekkendreef, Westerlo, 2260.
The Westerlo plant serves approximately 27,900 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration in the Belgian wastewater system.
The treated effluent from the Westerlo plant is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Grote Nete River, part of the Scheldt River basin, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
As a Belgian facility, the Westerlo plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which sets standards for collection and treatment of wastewater in agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment (biological treatment) unless discharging into sensitive areas, which may require tertiary treatment.
Nearby plants