Gatersleben Wastewater Treatment Plant, Selke-Aue, Sachsen-Anhalt

Gatersleben wastewater treatment plant is located in Selke-Aue, a municipality in the Harz district of Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,021 and has a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 400.63 m³/day. It is classified as a small agglomeration under German and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The plant operates under Germany's national water management framework, which implements the EU directive through the Water Resources Act (WHG) and state-level regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Bode River, a tributary of the Saale, which flows into the Elbe and ultimately the North Sea. The region is part of the Elbe basin, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems. The advanced treatment helps maintain water quality in the sensitive karst landscape of the Harz region.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed the Bode River, a tributary of the Saale, which joins the Elbe River before reaching the North Sea. The Harz region features sensitive karst aquifers and ecologically important riparian habitats. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loading, protecting downstream water bodies from eutrophication and supporting biodiversity in the Elbe basin.