Overview
Birresborn GKA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 3,800 people in Birresborn, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Birresborn GKA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the town of Birresborn, within the Vulkaneifel district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,800 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location in a rural, volcanic region influences the local water management needs. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving populations between 2,000 and 10,000 are generally required to provide secondary treatment. The regulatory framework ensures that the plant meets appropriate standards for its scale. The plant's capacity and operational details are managed by local municipal authorities. The treated effluent from Birresborn GKA is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Rhine River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's groundwater and surface water quality, particularly in the sensitive volcanic landscape of the Eifel region. Its operation supports the ecological health of downstream waters, including the Moselle and Rhine rivers.
Environmental context
Birresborn GKA discharges into small streams within the Kyll River catchment, which flows into the Moselle River and then the Rhine River. The region's volcanic soils and groundwater systems are ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this important European watershed.
Frequently asked questions
Birresborn GKA is located in Birresborn, a town in the Vulkaneifel district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 3,800 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Kyll River, part of the Moselle and Rhine river system.
As a German plant, Birresborn GKA operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of its size.
For small agglomerations in Germany, secondary treatment is standard, often involving biological processes to reduce organic matter and nutrients before discharge.
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