Hasselbach Weyerbusch Wastewater Treatment Plant, Forstmehren, Germany

Hasselbach Weyerbusch is a former wastewater treatment plant located in Forstmehren, a municipality in the Altenkirchen district of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. The plant served a small population of around 1,750 people and was designed to handle up to 2,400 cubic meters of wastewater per day. It is now closed and no longer in operation. The plant provided secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) greater than 2,000, though smaller plants may also be required to meet secondary standards depending on the sensitivity of the receiving waters. The plant's discharge volume was recorded at approximately 522 m³/day. Although the specific receiving water body is not named, the plant is located inland in the Westerwald region, and its treated effluent likely drained into a local stream or river within the Rhine basin. The closure of the plant suggests that wastewater from this area is now conveyed to a larger, more modern facility, improving treatment efficiency and environmental protection.

The plant is situated in the Westerwald region of Rheinland-Pfalz, an area characterized by low mountain ranges and numerous small rivers and streams. The treated effluent from the plant would have discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately flows into the Rhine River via the Sieg or Wied river systems. The Rhine basin is a major European watershed supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions. Even small tributaries play a crucial role in maintaining water quality and ecological balance in the downstream environment.