Overview
Gudow Krahenberg is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Gudow, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It serves a population of 2,990 with a designed capacity of 4,500 m³/day.
Gudow Krahenberg is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in the municipality of Gudow, within the Herzogtum Lauenburg district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of 2,990, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). As an advanced treatment facility, Gudow Krahenberg goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which is typical for plants discharging into sensitive water bodies. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,500 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 393.49 m³, indicating significant spare capacity. Operations are conducted in compliance with German water law (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz) and the EU UWWTD, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent, with advanced treatment required in sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Elbe River basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's aquatic ecosystems, including the nearby Schaalsee biosphere reserve, by reducing nutrient loads that could cause eutrophication in downstream waters.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams that flow into the Elbe River, which drains into the North Sea. The region includes ecologically sensitive areas such as the Schaalsee UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where nutrient pollution from wastewater can impact biodiversity. Advanced treatment helps minimize phosphorus and nitrogen inputs, protecting downstream aquatic habitats and the coastal marine environment.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Sophienthal, Gudow, in the Herzogtum Lauenburg district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 2,990, making it a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Elbe River, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) beyond secondary treatment, as required for sensitive areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
As a plant serving a population equivalent of 2,990, it falls under the directive's requirements for secondary treatment. Its advanced treatment status suggests it discharges into a sensitive area, requiring additional nutrient removal to protect the Elbe River and North Sea ecosystems.
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