Overview
KA Elze is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 9,640 people in Elze, Niedersachsen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
KA Elze is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Elze, a town in the district of Hildesheim, Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 9,640 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under European Union regulations. Its address on Rieheweg places it within the local infrastructure network of the region. As a German wastewater treatment facility, KA Elze operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets treatment standards based on population size and receiving water sensitivity. For agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent, the directive requires secondary treatment (biological treatment) unless the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, which may necessitate more advanced treatment. It is expected to comply with these regulatory requirements. The treated effluent from KA Elze is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Weser river basin, which flows northward to the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the region's streams and rivers, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream water uses. Its operation contributes to the overall environmental health of the Leine river system, a tributary of the Weser.
Environmental context
KA Elze discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that are part of the Leine river system, a tributary of the Weser River. The Weser basin flows through Niedersachsen and drains into the North Sea, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and migratory fish species. The plant's location inland, more than 50 km from the coast, means its discharge affects freshwater ecosystems rather than coastal marine environments. The region's agricultural landscape and small urban centers rely on maintained water quality for both ecological balance and human use.
Frequently asked questions
KA Elze is located on Rieheweg in Elze, a town in the district of Hildesheim, Niedersachsen, Germany.
KA Elze serves approximately 9,640 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that are part of the Leine river system, which flows into the Weser River and eventually reaches the North Sea.
As a German plant, KA Elze operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of its size, with possible tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
For agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent, the EU directive mandates secondary treatment (biological treatment). In Germany, this is typically achieved through activated sludge or similar processes, with nutrient removal if required by the receiving water body's sensitivity.
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