AZV Irchenrieth Bechtsrieth Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bavaria, Germany

AZV Irchenrieth Bechtsrieth is a former wastewater treatment plant located in Irchenrieth, a municipality in the district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab, Bavaria, Germany. The plant served a population of approximately 1,989 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The facility is now closed, and its operational history reflects the regulatory standards of the time. As a small agglomeration in Germany, the plant would have been required to provide secondary treatment or equivalent under the EU UWWTD, which sets minimum treatment standards based on population size and receiving water sensitivity. A common trend in rural areas to improve efficiency and compliance. The plant is situated inland in the Upper Palatinate region of Bavaria, near the Waldnaab River, which flows into the Naab and ultimately the Danube River. The Danube drains into the Black Sea, making this plant part of a major transboundary river basin. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality management.

The plant is located in the Waldnaab River basin, a tributary of the Naab River, which joins the Danube near Regensburg. The Danube flows through multiple countries before reaching the Black Sea. The region's watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as barbel and nase, and is part of a larger network of rivers that require careful nutrient management to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.