WOLFERSDORF Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wolfersdorf, Grand Est

The WOLFERSDORF wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Wolfersdorf in the Haut-Rhin department of the Grand Est region, France. It serves a population of approximately 2,300 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French regulations. The plant is situated in a rural area near the border with Switzerland. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 5,350 m³/day and currently discharges 410.32 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Rhine River basin. The Rhine is a major European waterway that flows into the North Sea. The advanced treatment level helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports the ecological health of the Rhine basin, which is home to diverse fish species and migratory birds.

The plant discharges into small streams that flow into the Ill River, a tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin is a critical ecological corridor in Europe, supporting species such as the Atlantic salmon and European eel. The advanced treatment at WOLFERSDORF reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in the Rhine and ultimately the North Sea.