KA Baltrum Wastewater Treatment Plant, Baltrum, Niedersachsen, Germany

KA Baltrum (4520022027) is a former wastewater treatment plant located in Ostdorf, Baltrum, in the district of Aurich, Lower Saxony, Germany. The plant served the island community of Baltrum, a small population of 1,905 residents, and was designed with a capacity of 6,000 m³/day. It is now closed and no longer operational. As an advanced treatment facility, KA Baltrum provided a high level of wastewater purification, likely including nutrient removal, which is typical for sensitive coastal environments in Germany. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment, and advanced treatment is mandated for discharges into sensitive areas such as the North Sea coast. The plant discharged treated wastewater into the surrounding coastal waters of the North Sea. Baltrum is one of the East Frisian Islands, a chain of barrier islands that protect the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage site (though not named here). The Wadden Sea is an ecologically critical intertidal zone supporting diverse bird populations, marine life, and migratory species.

The plant discharged into the North Sea near the East Frisian Islands. The receiving waters are part of the Wadden Sea ecosystem, a shallow tidal sea that supports rich biodiversity including seals, migratory birds, and fish. The area is ecologically sensitive due to its role as a nursery and feeding ground. The plant's advanced treatment helped protect these waters from nutrient pollution and pathogens.