KA Scharzfeld Wastewater Treatment Plant, Herzberg am Harz, Niedersachsen

KA Scharzfeld is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Scharzfeld district of Herzberg am Harz, in the Landkreis Göttingen, Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 20,844, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. As a German plant, KA Scharzfeld operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment process and capacity details are not publicly available, but the regulatory framework ensures compliance with national and EU standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Weser river basin, which flows into the North Sea. The surrounding region is characterized by the Harz mountain range, contributing to sensitive aquatic ecosystems that benefit from proper wastewater treatment to maintain water quality and biodiversity.

The plant's treated effluent enters local streams that feed into the Oder River (a tributary of the Rhume), which joins the Leine and eventually the Weser River, discharging into the North Sea. The Harz region supports diverse aquatic life, including salmonid populations, and the plant's treatment helps protect downstream habitats from nutrient pollution and organic load.