Karlovac Duga Resa Wastewater Treatment Plant, Donje Mekušje, Croatia

Karlovac Duga Resa is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Donje Mekušje, near Karlovac in central Croatia. The plant is designed to handle a capacity of 98,500 cubic meters per day, making it a significant facility for the region's wastewater management. It serves the urban and industrial areas of Karlovac and surrounding settlements. As an advanced treatment facility, Karlovac Duga Resa likely employs tertiary processes to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent effluent standards. Under Croatian and EU regulations, such plants are required to achieve high removal rates for organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, especially in sensitive areas. The plant's advanced status indicates it goes beyond secondary treatment, providing enhanced environmental protection. The treated effluent from Karlovac Duga Resa is discharged into the Kupa River, which flows into the Sava River and eventually the Danube River, reaching the Black Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the Kupa River's water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems. Its advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, preventing eutrophication in downstream water bodies.

The plant discharges into the Kupa River, a tributary of the Sava River, which flows into the Danube and ultimately the Black Sea. The Kupa River supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and water supply. Advanced treatment at this plant helps minimize nutrient pollution, protecting the river's ecological health and downstream environments from eutrophication and habitat degradation.