Overview
KA Auetal in Buchholz, Niedersachsen, Germany, serves approximately 7,000 people. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
KA Auetal is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Buchholz, within the Samtgemeinde Eilsen, Landkreis Schaumburg, Niedersachsen, Germany. The facility serves a population of approximately 7,000 residents, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under German and EU regulations. As a German plant, KA Auetal operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these standards, ensuring compliance with national and European water quality goals. The treated effluent from KA Auetal is discharged into local water bodies 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 aquatic ecosystems by reducing nutrient loads and organic pollutants, thereby supporting water quality in downstream environments.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Weser river basin, which flows through Niedersachsen and into the North Sea. The Weser estuary and the Wadden Sea are ecologically sensitive areas that support diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish and bird species. Effective wastewater treatment at KA Auetal helps reduce nutrient pollution, which is critical for preventing eutrophication in these downstream coastal ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
KA Auetal is located in Buchholz, within the Samtgemeinde Eilsen, Landkreis Schaumburg, Niedersachsen, Germany. The address is Waldweg, Buchholz, 31710.
KA Auetal serves approximately 7,000 residents, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated wastewater from KA Auetal is discharged into local water bodies that are part of the Weser river basin, which ultimately flows into the North Sea.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), KA Auetal, serving 7,000 people, is required to provide secondary treatment. If the receiving waters are sensitive, more stringent treatment may be needed.
For agglomerations of this size in Germany, secondary treatment is standard, often involving biological processes such as activated sludge. Plants may also include nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas.
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