Overview
KA Westrhauderfehn is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 33,550 people in Westrhauderfehn, Niedersachsen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
KA Westrhauderfehn is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Westrhauderfehn, a municipality in the Landkreis Leer district of Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 33,550 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating it is sized to handle the local wastewater load. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the North Sea via the Ems River and the Dollart estuary. The plant plays a key role in protecting the sensitive Wadden Sea ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage site, by reducing nutrient and pollutant loads.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local drainage network that flows into the Ems River, which empties into the Dollart estuary and then the North Sea. This region is part of the Wadden Sea, an ecologically sensitive intertidal zone that supports diverse bird life, marine species, and seagrass beds. Nutrient removal is critical to prevent eutrophication in these coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
KA Westrhauderfehn is located in Westrhauderfehn, a municipality in the Landkreis Leer district of Niedersachsen, Germany. The address is Am Siel, 26817 Westrhauderfehn.
The plant serves approximately 33,550 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which flows into the Ems River and eventually reaches the North Sea via the Dollart estuary.
As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and may require tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
For medium-sized agglomerations in Germany, secondary treatment (biological treatment) is standard. In sensitive areas like the North Sea coast, additional nutrient removal (tertiary treatment) is often required to meet EU standards.
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