AV Lechbruck Bernbeuren Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lechbruck am See, Bavaria

AV Lechbruck Bernbeuren is a wastewater treatment plant located in Lechbruck am See, a municipality in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 7,500 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under European Union regulations. 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 plants serving around 7,500 people, secondary treatment is the minimum standard, with tertiary treatment required if the receiving water body is designated as a sensitive area. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Lech River, a tributary of the Danube. The Danube flows into the Black Sea, making this plant part of a large international river basin. The surrounding region is characterized by Alpine foothills and numerous lakes, contributing to ecologically sensitive aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into the Lech River, which flows into the Danube and eventually reaches the Black Sea. The Lech River supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as grayling and brown trout. The region's numerous lakes and wetlands provide important habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife, making effective wastewater treatment crucial for maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.