Overview
KA Nordhorn is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 127,709 people in Nordhorn, Niedersachsen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
KA Nordhorn is a wastewater treatment facility located in Nordhorn, in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim, Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 127,709, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from the coast, and discharges into local water bodies. As a German plant serving over 100,000 people, KA Nordhorn is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires advanced treatment (tertiary) for such agglomerations in sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with stringent effluent standards to protect the environment. The treated wastewater from KA Nordhorn ultimately flows into the Vechte River, which passes through Nordhorn and continues into the Netherlands, eventually draining into the Zwarte Water and the IJsselmeer. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality management.
Environmental context
KA Nordhorn discharges into the Vechte River, a transboundary watercourse that flows from Germany into the Netherlands. The Vechte joins the Zwarte Water and then the IJsselmeer, a large freshwater lake. The river supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for waterfowl. The plant's location in the Vechte basin means its effluent quality directly affects downstream ecosystems, including Dutch waters.
Frequently asked questions
KA Nordhorn is located in Nordhorn, in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim, Niedersachsen, Germany.
KA Nordhorn serves approximately 127,709 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Vechte River, which flows through Nordhorn and into the Netherlands, eventually reaching the IJsselmeer.
As a plant serving over 100,000 people, KA Nordhorn is required to meet advanced treatment standards under the EU UWWTD, especially if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication.
In Germany, plants of this scale typically employ tertiary treatment, including biological nutrient removal, to comply with strict effluent limits set by the EU UWWTD and national regulations.
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