KA Ruhle (4540352002) - Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Meppen, Niedersachsen

KA Ruhle (4540352002) is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Rühle district of Meppen, in the Emsland district of Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 8,500 and has a designed capacity of 12,500 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 595.10 cubic meters per day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment requirements mandated by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters, aligning with Germany's implementation of the directive for larger plants in sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Ems River basin. The Ems River flows northward through Niedersachsen and into the North Sea near Emden. The advanced treatment level helps safeguard the ecological health of the Ems and its tributaries, which support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Ems River basin, which flows through the Emsland region and empties into the North Sea. The Ems is a lowland river with significant ecological importance, supporting fish species such as salmon and eel. Advanced treatment at KA Ruhle reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in the river and the downstream coastal waters of the Wadden Sea, a critical habitat for migratory birds and marine life.