Overview
UWWTP Svilengrad serves the town of Svilengrad in Haskovo Province, Bulgaria, treating wastewater from approximately 20,900 residents. The plant discharges into the Maritsa River, which flows into the Aegean Sea.
UWWTP Svilengrad is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Gebran district of Svilengrad, a town in Haskovo Province, southeastern Bulgaria. The plant serves a population of approximately 20,900 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under Bulgarian and EU regulations. As a Bulgarian facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with EU standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the Maritsa River (Evros/Meriç), a major river that forms the border between Greece and Turkey before flowing into the Aegean Sea. The Maritsa basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important agricultural and ecological corridor in the region.
Environmental context
UWWTP Svilengrad discharges into the Maritsa River, which flows through the Eastern Balkans and empties into the Aegean Sea near the Greek-Turkish border. The river supports a variety of fish species and provides critical habitat for migratory birds along the Via Pontica flyway. The downstream environment includes the Evros Delta, a ecologically sensitive area that relies on good water quality from upstream treatment plants.
Frequently asked questions
UWWTP Svilengrad is located in the Gebran district of Svilengrad, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria.
The plant serves approximately 20,903 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant treats wastewater before discharging into the Maritsa River, which flows into the Aegean Sea, helping to protect downstream water quality.
As a Bulgarian plant serving over 10,000 people, it must comply with the EU UWWTD (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving 10,000-150,000 people in Bulgaria typically require secondary biological treatment. If discharging into sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal may be needed.
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