Overview
Zichem wastewater treatment plant in Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium, serves 4,700 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 840 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 5,400 m³/day.
The Zichem wastewater treatment plant is located in Zichem, part of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem municipality in the province of Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium. It serves a population of approximately 4,700 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Belgian and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive's minimum requirement of secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 5,400 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 840 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity, indicating efficient management. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Belgium and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports water quality in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Demer River basin, a tributary of the Dijle, which flows into the Rupel and then the Scheldt River. The Scheldt estuary is an ecologically important area supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. Advanced treatment at Zichem reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, helping to maintain water quality in this sensitive watershed.
Frequently asked questions
The Zichem plant is located at 40 Van Thienwinckelstraat in Zichem, part of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem municipality, in the province of Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium.
The plant serves approximately 4,700 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater treatment directives.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that are part of the Demer River basin, eventually reaching the Scheldt River and the North Sea.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which exceeds the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive's requirement of secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
As a Belgian plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment to protect receiving waters. The advanced treatment at Zichem reflects Belgium's commitment to high environmental standards.
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