Overview
Ballenstedt wastewater treatment plant in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, serves about 7,500 residents with advanced treatment. It has a designed capacity of 10,000 m³/day and discharges treated water into local waterways.
The Ballenstedt wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Ballenstedt, within the Harz district of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 7,500 people, making it a small to medium-sized municipal facility in the region. 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. With a designed capacity of 10,000 m³/day, the facility is equipped to handle the community's wastewater needs, and the current discharge volume of about 817 m³/day indicates ample reserve capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Bode River, a tributary of the Saale, which flows into the Elbe and ultimately the North Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Harz region, which is known for its biodiversity and water quality standards.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams that feed the Bode River, part of the Elbe basin. The Harz region features sensitive freshwater habitats supporting diverse aquatic life, including fish species like brown trout. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping maintain water quality in downstream rivers and the North Sea.
Frequently asked questions
The Ballenstedt wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Ballenstedt, in the Harz district of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 7,483 residents, classifying it as a small to medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Bode River, a tributary of the Saale, which eventually reaches the Elbe and the North Sea.
The plant uses advanced treatment, which exceeds the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size.
As a German facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) and national water laws, which mandate advanced treatment in sensitive areas like the Harz region.
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