Overview
Grossbodungen wastewater treatment plant in Bleicherode, Thüringen, Germany, is a closed advanced treatment facility that served a population of 499. It had a designed capacity of 5,000 m³/day and discharged 126.29 m³/day.
The Grossbodungen wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Bleicherode, within the Thüringen region of Germany. This facility served a small population of 499 residents and is now closed. As a small agglomeration, it was part of Germany's wastewater infrastructure under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The plant employed advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU directive for sensitive areas. Its designed capacity was 5,000 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 126.29 m³/day, indicating a low utilization rate before closure. The plant's operational status is closed, and no further details on the treatment process type are available. The treated effluent from Grossbodungen would have discharged into local water bodies within the Wipper river basin, which flows through Thüringen and eventually into the Unstrut, Saale, and Elbe rivers before reaching the North Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helped protect the local aquatic environment and downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The Grossbodungen plant is situated inland in Thüringen, Germany, within the Wipper river catchment. The Wipper flows into the Unstrut, which joins the Saale and then the Elbe, ultimately draining into the North Sea. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a larger river system that requires careful management to prevent nutrient pollution. Advanced treatment at this plant would have helped reduce the ecological impact on these downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
The Grossbodungen wastewater treatment plant is located in Bleicherode, in the Thüringen region of Germany. Its address is L 1011, Kleinbodungen, Bleicherode, Landkreis Eichsfeld, Thüringen, 37345.
The Grossbodungen plant served a population of 499 residents before it was closed. This classifies it as a very small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The Grossbodungen plant provided advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal and disinfection beyond secondary treatment. This level is often required for sensitive areas to protect water quality.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), small agglomerations like Grossbodungen (under 2,000 population equivalent) are required to have appropriate treatment. Germany implements this directive through national legislation, and advanced treatment may be mandated for sensitive catchments.
Advanced treatment at Grossbodungen would have reduced pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, protecting the Wipper river and downstream water bodies like the Unstrut, Saale, and Elbe. This helps prevent eutrophication and supports aquatic biodiversity in the North Sea basin.
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