Overview
Gutenbach wastewater treatment plant in Gütenbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, serves 1,500 people with secondary treatment. The plant is now closed, having discharged 320.16 m³/day into local waterways.
The Gutenbach wastewater treatment plant is located in the small town of Gütenbach, nestled in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It served a population of approximately 1,500 people, reflecting a small-scale municipal facility typical of rural communities in the area. As a secondary treatment plant, it provided biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the standards required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The plant had a designed capacity of 2,400 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 320.16 m³/day, indicating it operated well below capacity. The facility is now closed, and its operational history is part of the regional wastewater infrastructure. The plant's treated effluent was discharged into local streams that drain into the Danube River basin via the Brigach and Breg rivers, which converge in Donaueschingen to form the Danube. This region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and contributing to the headwaters of one of Europe's major river systems.
Environmental context
The plant discharged into small streams in the Black Forest, which flow into the Brigach and Breg rivers, the headwaters of the Danube River. The Danube then travels through Central and Eastern Europe to the Black Sea. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species like brown trout and grayling, and is an important corridor for migratory birds. The plant's closure may reduce nutrient inputs, benefiting downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The Gutenbach wastewater treatment plant is located in Gütenbach, a town in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in the Black Forest region.
The plant served approximately 1,500 people, typical of a small rural agglomeration in Germany.
The plant provided secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, in compliance with EU standards.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000 require secondary treatment. Although Gutenbach served 1,500 people, it still met secondary treatment standards, reflecting Germany's commitment to high water quality.
The plant's effluent entered streams that feed the Brigach and Breg rivers, which form the Danube River headwaters. The Danube is a major European river flowing to the Black Sea, supporting diverse ecosystems and providing water for millions of people.
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