Overview
KA Neuenkirchen M in Melle, Niedersachsen, Germany serves 7,300 people. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
KA Neuenkirchen M is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Neuenkirchen district of Melle, in the Landkreis Osnabrück, Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population of 7,300, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). As a German plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it is subject to the EU UWWTD requirements for secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with national and European standards for wastewater treatment. The treated effluent from KA Neuenkirchen M is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Weser river basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local aquatic environment and the downstream ecosystems of the Weser estuary and the Wadden Sea, an ecologically sensitive coastal zone.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams in the Neuenkirchen area, which flow into the Else River, a tributary of the Weser. The Weser drains into the North Sea via the Weser estuary, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. The surrounding region is characterized by agricultural land and scattered woodlands, making nutrient removal from wastewater critical to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
KA Neuenkirchen M is located at Niedermühlenstraße 48 in the Neuenkirchen district of Melle, in the Landkreis Osnabrück, Niedersachsen, Germany.
The plant serves a population of 7,300, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Else River, a tributary of the Weser, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
As a German plant serving 7,300 people, it falls under the EU UWWTD (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000. The plant must meet standards for biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids.
In Germany, plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet EU standards. Some may also include nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas.
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