AV Schwarzwasser KLA Lichtenau Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ulm, Germany

AV Schwarzwasser KLA Lichtenau is a wastewater treatment plant located in Ulm, within the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 9,900, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a German facility, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's treatment processes and capacity are managed in compliance with national water quality standards. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhine River basin. The Rhine is a major European waterway supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing drinking water for millions. Proper treatment at this plant helps protect downstream water quality and ecological health.

The plant's treated effluent enters the local tributaries of the Rhine River, which flows through Germany and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The Rhine basin supports a variety of fish species, including salmon and eel, and is an important migratory corridor. The plant's operations contribute to maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system.