Overview
AZV Schmuttertal Sitz Hirblingen is a wastewater treatment plant serving about 63,000 people in Holzhausen, Bavaria, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of thi
AZV Schmuttertal Sitz Hirblingen is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Holzhausen, a district of Gablingen in the Augsburg region of Bavaria, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 63,151, placing it in the medium-to-large agglomeration category under EU classification. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary biological treatment for agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent. For plants serving over 10,000 people in sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal is typically mandated. It is expected to meet these EU standards. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Danube River basin. The Danube flows eastward through Central and Eastern Europe before reaching the Black Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, particularly the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Danube watershed.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Schmutter River, a tributary of the Danube. The Danube River basin is one of Europe's most ecologically significant watersheds, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a major migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this transboundary river system, which ultimately flows into the Black Sea. The region's agricultural and urban runoff also contribute to nutrient loads, making effective wastewater treatment critical for preventing eutrophication in downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Holzhausen, a district of Gablingen in the Augsburg region of Bavaria, Germany. Its address is A 15, Holzhausen, Gablingen, Landkreis Augsburg, Bayern.
The plant serves approximately 63,151 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Schmutter River, a tributary of the Danube River. The Danube ultimately flows into the Black Sea.
As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 PE and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas for plants over 10,000 PE.
Plants of this scale in Germany typically provide secondary biological treatment with nutrient removal (tertiary treatment) to meet EU standards, especially in sensitive catchments like the Danube basin.
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