Overview
WITTELSHEIM wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 14,000 people in Wittelsheim, Grand Est, France. The facility operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale
The WITTELSHEIM wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Wittelsheim, within the Mulhouse urban area in the Haut-Rhin department of the Grand Est region, France. The facility serves a population of approximately 14,000 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union classification. As a French wastewater treatment plant, WITTELSHEIM operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 10,000 and 150,000. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Rhine River basin. The Rhine is a major European waterway flowing through Germany and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality and supporting the ecological health of the Rhine watershed.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into tributaries of the Ill River, which flows into the Rhine River near Strasbourg. The Rhine basin is a critical ecological corridor supporting diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eel. The region's industrial and agricultural activities place demands on water quality, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining the ecological balance of the Rhine and its tributaries.
Frequently asked questions
The WITTELSHEIM wastewater treatment plant is located in Wittelsheim, in the Haut-Rhin department of the Grand Est region, France. The address is D 2, Cité de la Gare, Wittelsheim, 68310.
The plant serves approximately 14,000 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that are part of the Ill River basin, which flows into the Rhine River. The Rhine ultimately drains into the North Sea.
As a French plant, WITTELSHEIM operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of its size. National regulations transpose the directive into French law.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal may be required.
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