Overview
Ahrensburg wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 32,925 people in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Ahrensburg wastewater treatment plant is located in the city of Ahrensburg, in the district of Stormarn, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It serves a population of around 32,925, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Promenadenweg area and plays a key role in managing municipal wastewater for the region. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000. For populations between 10,000 and 100,000, the directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in million cubic meters per year or similar unit), indicating its scale of operation. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Baltic Sea via the Trave River or other nearby systems. This discharge contributes to the overall water quality management in the region, which is important for both ecological health and recreational use of the Baltic Sea coastline. The plant's operations help protect downstream aquatic ecosystems from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.
Environmental context
The Ahrensburg plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Trave River, which eventually reaches the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed brackish sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient inputs that can cause eutrophication and algal blooms. The plant's treatment processes help reduce the load of nitrogen and phosphorus, supporting the ecological balance of the downstream watershed and marine environment.
Frequently asked questions
The Ahrensburg wastewater treatment plant is located in the city of Ahrensburg, in the district of Stormarn, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Its address is Promenadenweg, Ahrensburg, 22926.
The plant serves approximately 32,925 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that flow into the Trave River, which ultimately drains into the Baltic Sea.
As a German plant serving over 10,000 people, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and potentially more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication.
For agglomerations of this size in Germany, secondary treatment is standard, and often tertiary treatment is applied to remove nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to protect sensitive water bodies such as the Baltic Sea.
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