Overview
Frelenberg wastewater treatment plant serves Übach-Palenberg, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It treats wastewater for approximately 57,000 people under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive standards.
The Frelenberg wastewater treatment plant is located in Übach-Palenberg, a town in the Heinsberg district of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The facility serves a population of approximately 57,000, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a German plant, Frelenberg operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also requires more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these regulatory standards, ensuring compliance with national and EU water quality goals. The treated effluent from Frelenberg is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Rur River basin, a tributary of the Meuse River. The Meuse flows through the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of this transboundary river system and the downstream aquatic ecosystems.
Environmental context
The Frelenberg plant discharges into the Rur River basin, which flows into the Meuse River and eventually the North Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant's operations help maintain water quality standards that protect downstream habitats and biodiversity.
Frequently asked questions
The Frelenberg plant is located in Übach-Palenberg, in the Heinsberg district of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 57,281 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent from Frelenberg is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Rur River basin, a tributary of the Meuse River, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and may require advanced treatment in sensitive areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving over 10,000 population equivalent are required to have at least secondary treatment. Many German plants also implement tertiary treatment to meet stringent water quality standards.
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