Overview
KA Uthwerdum serves approximately 15,845 people in Engerhafe, Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
KA Uthwerdum is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Engerhafe, a locality in the municipality of Südbrookmerland, Landkreis Aurich, Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 15,845, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. As a German facility, KA Uthwerdum 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 15,000, and more stringent treatment for larger agglomerations in sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousand cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating it is sized to handle the local wastewater load. The treated effluent from KA Uthwerdum is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the North Sea via the Ems-Jade region. The area is characterized by low-lying marshlands and is part of the Wadden Sea ecosystem, a critical habitat for migratory birds and marine life. The plant's performance is crucial for protecting the sensitive coastal environment from nutrient pollution.
Environmental context
KA Uthwerdum discharges into the local drainage network that flows into the North Sea via the Ems and Jade estuaries. The surrounding region is part of the Wadden Sea, a shallow tidal area that supports diverse aquatic life and serves as an important migratory corridor for birds. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to eutrophication in these sensitive coastal waters, making effective treatment essential for maintaining ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
KA Uthwerdum is located in Engerhafe, a locality in the municipality of Südbrookmerland, Landkreis Aurich, Niedersachsen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 15,845 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the North Sea via the Ems and Jade estuaries.
Under the EU UWWTD (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this scale (around 15,000 PE) are required to have at least secondary treatment. If the receiving waters are sensitive areas, more stringent treatment may be required.
In Germany, plants of this size typically employ secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum, often with nutrient removal to meet strict discharge limits, especially in sensitive catchments.
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