UWWTP Plovdiv - Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

UWWTP Plovdiv is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, located in the Trakia district. With a population equivalent of approximately 249,480, it is classified as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, about 50 km from the Black Sea coast, and its treated effluent ultimately drains into the Maritsa River basin. As a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the plant is required to provide at least secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment expected if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The directive also mandates that plants serving over 100,000 population equivalents in sensitive areas must achieve nutrient removal. Bulgaria, as an EU member state, has transposed these requirements into national law, and the plant is subject to permitting and monitoring by the relevant Bulgarian authorities. The plant's treated wastewater is discharged into the Maritsa River, which flows through the Thracian Plain and eventually into the Aegean Sea via the Evros River. The Maritsa River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and industry in the region. The plant plays a critical role in protecting the river's water quality and the downstream ecosystems of the Aegean Sea.

UWWTP Plovdiv discharges treated wastewater into the Maritsa River, which flows through the Thracian Plain and into the Aegean Sea via the Evros River. The Maritsa River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is a key water source for agriculture and industry. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system, which is also an important migratory corridor for fish and bird species.