Edermunde _ Grifte Wastewater Treatment Plant, Grifte, Hessen, Germany

Edermunde _ Grifte is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Ederaue area near Grifte, part of the Edermünde municipality in the Schwalm-Eder-Kreis district of Hessen, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 21,232, placing it in the medium 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 treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with national and EU standards. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Eder River, a tributary of the Fulda River, then into the Weser River and the North Sea. The surrounding region is characterized by agricultural and rural landscapes, and the plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Eder River and downstream ecosystems.

The plant's treated effluent enters the Eder River, a major tributary of the Fulda River, which flows into the Weser River and eventually reaches the North Sea. The Eder River supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and agriculture. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this river system, which is important for both ecological health and human use in the region.