Overview
Hamm Mattenbecke is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 54,400 people in Hamm, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Hamm Mattenbecke is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Hamm, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Serving an estimated population of 54,409, the plant is part of the region's essential water infrastructure, handling domestic and industrial wastewater from the city and surrounding areas. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale. For populations between 10,000 and 150,000, the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, with tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's compliance with these standards ensures effective pollutant removal before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Lippe River, a tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical waterway for Europe. The plant's operations help protect downstream ecosystems and maintain water quality in this densely populated and industrialized region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Lippe River, which flows into the Rhine, one of Europe's major rivers. The Rhine basin supports diverse aquatic species and is an important migratory corridor for fish. The plant's treatment processes help reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system.
Frequently asked questions
Hamm Mattenbecke is located in Hamm, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, at coordinates 51.6870 N, 7.8200 E.
The plant serves approximately 54,409 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated wastewater from Hamm Mattenbecke is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Lippe River, a tributary of the Rhine.
As a plant serving over 10,000 people, Hamm Mattenbecke is subject to the EU UWWTD, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated to reduce nutrients.
In Germany, plants of this scale typically provide secondary treatment (biological) and often include nutrient removal to meet EU standards. Many also incorporate advanced treatment steps depending on local discharge requirements.
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