KA Wetterndorf Wastewater Treatment Plant, Steinkirchen, Niedersachsen

KA Wetterndorf is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Steinkirchen, in the state of Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 39,050 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU regulations. As a German plant, KA Wetterndorf operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousand cubic meters per day), indicating a facility capable of handling the local wastewater load. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Elbe River and then into the North Sea. This makes the plant's performance important for the ecological health of the Elbe estuary and the downstream marine environment.

The plant's treated effluent flows into the Elbe River basin, which drains into the North Sea. The Elbe estuary is a critical habitat for migratory fish and supports diverse aquatic life. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its discharges can affect coastal water quality, making nutrient removal important to prevent eutrophication in the North Sea.