Hausen Waldbreitbach GKA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Niederbreitbach, Germany

Hausen Waldbreitbach GKA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Niederbreitbach, within the Rengsdorf-Waldbreitbach collective municipality in the district of Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 10,329, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations of this size. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet the effluent standards set by the directive, ensuring compliance with national and European water quality objectives. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Rhine River basin. The Rhine is a major European waterway that flows through Germany into the North Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing drinking water for millions. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Rhine basin by reducing nutrient and organic loads.

The plant discharges into the Rhine River basin, a major European watershed that flows through Germany and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The Rhine supports a rich diversity of fish species, including salmon and eel, and is an important migratory corridor. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system, which is subject to the EU Water Framework Directive's goals for good ecological status.