4544072001 KA Berssen Wastewater Treatment Plant, Klein Berßen, Niedersachsen

The 4544072001 KA Berssen wastewater treatment plant is located in Klein Berßen, a village in the Samtgemeinde Sögel, Emsland district of Niedersachsen, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 2,700 residents and has a designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day, with an average daily discharge of 300.11 cubic meters. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required 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 water bodies. The plant operates under Germany's national water regulations, which implement the EU directive and often require tertiary or advanced treatment for plants discharging into ecologically sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Ems River basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in the Emsland region, supporting both aquatic ecosystems and downstream uses such as agriculture and recreation.

The plant discharges into the Ems River catchment, which flows northward through Niedersachsen into the Dollart estuary and then the North Sea. The Ems basin supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eel. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting the downstream estuary and coastal waters from eutrophication. The region's agricultural land use makes phosphorus and nitrogen removal particularly important for maintaining ecological balance.