Overview
Fernwald Steinbach wastewater treatment plant serves Steinbach, Hessen, Germany. It treats wastewater from approximately 7,000 residents in the Gießen district.
Fernwald Steinbach is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Steinbach, a district of Fernwald in Hessen, Germany. The facility serves a population of approximately 7,000 people, placing it within the small to medium agglomeration category under German and EU regulations. The plant is situated in the Lahn river basin, an area characterized by mixed agricultural and residential land use. 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. Germany implements this directive through its national wastewater ordinance (Abwasserverordnung), ensuring consistent treatment standards. The plant's treatment process and capacity details are not publicly available, but regulatory compliance is expected for its population tier. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Lahn River, a tributary of the Rhine. The Lahn flows through central Germany, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and recreation. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watershed from nutrient pollution and maintaining water quality in the Rhine basin.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams that feed the Lahn River, which flows into the Rhine. The Lahn is an ecologically sensitive river supporting fish species such as grayling and brown trout. Downstream, the Rhine is a major European waterway with significant biodiversity and economic importance. The plant's treatment helps prevent eutrophication and maintains water quality in this interconnected system.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at B 457, Steinbach, Fernwald, in the Landkreis Gießen, Hessen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 7,000 residents in the Steinbach area of Fernwald.
Treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Lahn River, a tributary of the Rhine.
As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving 2,000 to 10,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and nutrients.
Nearby plants