Overview
KA Westerholt is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Terheide, Niedersachsen, Germany, serving about 5,051 people. It discharges treated water near the North Sea coast.
KA Westerholt is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Terheide, within the Samtgemeinde Holtriem district of Niedersachsen, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,051, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under German and EU regulations. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for sensitive areas. With a designed capacity of 6,400 m³/day and a reported discharge volume of 720.78 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment of local wastewater. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the North Sea. Being within 10 km of the coast, the plant plays a crucial role in protecting the sensitive coastal and marine environment of the Wadden Sea region, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ecological importance.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams that flow toward the North Sea, part of the Wadden Sea ecosystem. This coastal region supports diverse bird populations, seals, and unique tidal flats. Advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting the sensitive marine environment from eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
KA Westerholt is located in Terheide, within the Samtgemeinde Holtriem district of Niedersachsen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 5,051 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that flow toward the North Sea, contributing to the Wadden Sea catchment.
KA Westerholt provides advanced treatment, exceeding the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for sensitive coastal areas.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and German national regulations, which mandate advanced treatment for plants near sensitive coastal waters to protect the Wadden Sea ecosystem.
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