Hartenholm Wastewater Treatment Plant | Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

The Hartenholm wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Hartenholm, within the Kreis Segeberg district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 2,864 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and treats wastewater from the local community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU UWWTD for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day and an average daily discharge of 347 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the North Sea via the Elbe River system. The region's water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are part of the broader Elbe basin, which is ecologically significant for migratory fish and wetland habitats. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive watershed.

The plant discharges into small streams that flow into the Stör river, a tributary of the Elbe, which ultimately reaches the North Sea. The Elbe estuary is an ecologically important area for fish migration and bird populations. The surrounding Schleswig-Holstein region features numerous lakes and wetlands that rely on good water quality to maintain biodiversity.