Overview
Ahlen Stadt is a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Ahlen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, serving approximately 58,000 people. It discharges treated effluent into the local water system, contributing to the protection of the Lippe River basin.
Ahlen Stadt is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Ahlen, in the district of Warendorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 58,000, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under German and EU regulations. As a German plant, Ahlen Stadt operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant likely provides at least secondary biological treatment, with possible nutrient removal to meet standards for sensitive areas in the Lippe River catchment. The treated wastewater is discharged into the Werse River, a tributary of the Lippe, which flows into the Rhine and ultimately the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in the Werse-Lippe system, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses.
Environmental context
Ahlen Stadt discharges into the Werse River, a tributary of the Lippe River, which flows into the Rhine and then the North Sea. The Lippe basin supports diverse aquatic habitats and is an important ecological corridor in Nordrhein-Westfalen. The plant's treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this densely populated and agriculturally active region.
Frequently asked questions
Ahlen Stadt is located in Ahlen, in the district of Warendorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, along the Werseradweg.
Ahlen Stadt serves approximately 58,115 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Werse River, which flows into the Lippe River and eventually the Rhine and North Sea.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, plants serving over 10,000 people must provide secondary treatment. Ahlen Stadt, serving 58,000, is required to meet secondary treatment standards, and likely also nutrient removal if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive.
In Germany, plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment, often with activated sludge processes, and may include tertiary treatment for nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to comply with EU and national standards for sensitive water bodies.
Nearby plants