Overview
KA Winsen Luhe is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving Winsen (Luhe), Niedersachsen, Germany. It handles a population equivalent of approximately 41,578 and operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
KA Winsen Luhe is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Winsen (Luhe), a town in the district of Harburg, Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 41,578, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location near the Luhe river and the Elbe basin places it within a sensitive hydrological network. As a German plant of this scale, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum for agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent. For larger agglomerations in sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in million cubic meters per year or similar), indicating a substantial infrastructure investment. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Luhe river, a tributary of the Elbe, which flows into the North Sea. This downstream connection underscores the plant's role in protecting the Elbe estuary and the Wadden Sea ecosystem, a region of high ecological importance for migratory birds and aquatic life. The plant contributes to maintaining water quality standards in a densely populated and agriculturally active region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Luhe river, which flows into the Elbe river and eventually the North Sea. The Elbe estuary supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. The region's flat terrain and agricultural land use mean that nutrient removal is important to prevent eutrophication in downstream coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
KA Winsen Luhe is located in Winsen (Luhe), a town in the district of Harburg, Niedersachsen, Germany. The address is Seebrückenweg, Stöckte, Winsen (Luhe).
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 41,578, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Luhe river, a tributary of the Elbe, which flows into the North Sea. This discharge is regulated under German water law and EU directives.
The plant protects the Luhe river and the downstream Elbe river system. By treating wastewater, it helps maintain water quality in these water bodies, which are important for ecology and human use.
As a plant serving over 10,000 population equivalent, KA Winsen Luhe is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This requires secondary treatment as a minimum, and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication.
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