Overview
Aachen Sud wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 31,300 people in Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Aachen Sud is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Brand district of Aachen, in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 31,300, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a German plant, Aachen Sud is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. German wastewater facilities are also regulated under the national Water Resources Act (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz) and must meet stringent effluent standards. The treated effluent from Aachen Sud is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Rur River basin and then into the Meuse River, flowing towards the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the region's surface waters and supporting the ecological health of the downstream environment.
Environmental context
Aachen Sud discharges into the local drainage network that feeds into the Rur River, a tributary of the Meuse. The Meuse flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and pollutants, safeguarding the ecological balance of these water bodies.
Frequently asked questions
Aachen Sud is located in the Brand district of Aachen, in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, at Komericher Weg.
The plant serves approximately 31,300 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which drains into the Rur River basin and eventually the Meuse River, flowing to the North Sea.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size (over 10,000 population equivalent) require secondary treatment. The plant must comply with German national standards implementing the directive.
German plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment, often with nutrient removal to meet strict effluent limits set by the EU directive and national Water Resources Act.
Nearby plants