AZV Mittlere Wornitz Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rudelstetten, Bavaria

AZV Mittlere Wornitz is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Rudelstetten, within the Donau-Ries district of Bavaria, Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of 13,571, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU 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 of this size. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet the stringent standards set by German water law (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz) and the EU directive, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and nutrients. The treated effluent is discharged into the Wörnitz River, a tributary of the Danube. The Danube basin is a major European waterway, flowing into the Black Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Wörnitz and downstream Danube ecosystems from nutrient pollution and organic load, supporting aquatic biodiversity and water quality.

The plant discharges into the Wörnitz River, which flows into the Danube River and eventually reaches the Black Sea. The Danube basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life including fish species such as sturgeon and migratory birds. The plant's nutrient removal helps prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.