KA Parensen Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nörten-Hardenberg, Germany

KA Parensen is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Parensen district of Nörten-Hardenberg, in the state of Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of about 4,784 and has a designed capacity of 5,500 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 942.16 m³/day. As an advanced treatment facility, KA Parensen goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which is typical for plants in sensitive catchment areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The directive requires tertiary treatment for agglomerations of this size when discharging into sensitive areas, ensuring high effluent quality. The treated wastewater from KA Parensen is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Weser river basin, which flows into the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality and supporting the ecological health of downstream aquatic habitats.

KA Parensen discharges into the Weser river basin, which flows through central Germany to the North Sea. The Weser supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream waters.