KA Neetze Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rullstorf, Niedersachsen

KA Neetze is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Rullstorf, a municipality in the Samtgemeinde Scharnebeck, Lüneburg district, Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 5,020 and is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. As an advanced treatment facility, KA Neetze 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 plant has a design capacity of 7,000 m³/day and currently discharges 552.25 m³/day of treated wastewater, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent from KA Neetze is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Elbe River basin. The Elbe flows through northern Germany into the North Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and serving as an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant river system.

KA Neetze discharges into the local drainage network that feeds into the Elbe River, one of Central Europe's major waterways. The Elbe flows through the Elbe estuary into the North Sea, supporting a range of aquatic habitats including tidal flats and wetlands. The region's watershed is ecologically sensitive, with the Elbe providing critical spawning and nursery grounds for fish such as Atlantic salmon and sea trout. Advanced treatment at the plant helps reduce nutrient loading, which is essential for preventing eutrophication in the downstream coastal environment.