KA Buddenstedt Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hötensleben, Saxony-Anhalt

KA Buddenstedt is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Hötensleben, within the Börde district of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,629 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). It is situated in the Obere Aller region, part of the Aller river basin. As an advanced treatment facility, KA Buddenstedt goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which is typical for plants discharging into sensitive water bodies. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,400 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 370.61 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated wastewater from KA Buddenstedt is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Aller River and then into the Weser River before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the Aller basin's water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems in a region characterized by agricultural land use and small settlements.

KA Buddenstedt discharges into the Obere Aller catchment, which flows into the Aller River, a tributary of the Weser River. The Weser drains into the North Sea, making this plant part of a transboundary river basin. The Aller and Weser rivers support diverse aquatic habitats, including fish spawning grounds and migratory corridors for species such as salmon and sea trout. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, which is critical for preventing eutrophication in the downstream Wadden Sea area.