Anne biotiigid Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lohkva, Estonia

Anne biotiigid is a wastewater treatment plant located in Lohkva, a village in Luunja Parish, Tartu County, Estonia. The plant serves a small population of 82 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 550 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 18.89 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The plant operates under Estonia's national implementation of EU water legislation. Treated effluent from Anne biotiigid likely discharges into a local watercourse that drains into the Emajõgi River basin, which flows through Tartu and eventually into Lake Peipus, one of Europe's largest transboundary lakes. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity and water quality management.

The plant's discharge enters a local stream that is part of the Emajõgi River catchment, which flows into Lake Peipus. Lake Peipus is a large, shallow lake shared between Estonia and Russia, supporting diverse fish populations and migratory birds. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to its role in nutrient cycling and as a habitat for species such as the European smelt and pike-perch. Protecting water quality in this basin is critical for maintaining the lake's ecological balance and for downstream communities.