Bad Homburg _ Ober Erlenbach Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Hessen

The Bad Homburg _ Ober Erlenbach wastewater treatment plant is located in the Ober-Erlenbach district of Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, in the Hochtaunuskreis region of Hessen, Germany. The facility serves a population of approximately 59,000, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalents are required to provide secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment mandated if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures appropriate treatment standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Rhine River basin, which flows through Germany and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The Rhine is a major European waterway supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing drinking water for millions.

The plant discharges into the Rhine River basin, which flows through Germany and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The Rhine supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eel. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to high population density and industrial activity, requiring effective wastewater treatment to protect water quality.