Bad Kleinen Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hohen Viecheln, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

The Bad Kleinen wastewater treatment plant is located near Hohen Viecheln in the district of Nordwestmecklenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 5,411 people and has a designed capacity of 6,500 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 530.67 cubic meters per day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal to protect sensitive water bodies, aligning with Germany's implementation of the directive in sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Baltic Sea via the Warnow or Trave river systems. The region's aquatic ecosystems benefit from the high treatment standard, reducing nutrient loads and supporting biodiversity in the Baltic Sea catchment.

The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Baltic Sea drainage basin. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream coastal waters and supporting the health of marine habitats.