Ellingstedt Wastewater Treatment Plant, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Ellingstedt wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Ellingstedt, within the Schleswig-Flensburg district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It was designed to serve a population equivalent of 1,086, classifying it as a small agglomeration under German and EU regulations. The plant is currently closed and no longer operational. As a secondary treatment facility, Ellingstedt provided biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), small agglomerations like this are typically required to have appropriate treatment, though secondary treatment is standard for inland plants. The plant had a designed capacity of 2,570 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 274.84 cubic meters per day. The treated effluent from Ellingstedt was discharged into local watercourses that drain into the North Sea via the Eider River system. The region's watershed supports diverse aquatic life and contributes to the ecological health of the North Sea coastal zone. The plant's closure means that wastewater from the area is now likely managed by a neighboring facility.

The plant's treated effluent flowed into small streams within the Eider River basin, which ultimately drains into the North Sea. The Eider River and its tributaries provide habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates, and the North Sea coastal waters are ecologically sensitive, supporting migratory birds and marine species. The region's flat terrain and agricultural land use influence runoff and water quality.