Hayna Erlenbach Wastewater Treatment Plant | Erlenbach bei Kandel, Rheinland-Pfalz

Hayna Erlenbach is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Erlenbach bei Kandel, a municipality in the Germersheim district of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,100 and has a designed capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 413.41 cubic meters per day, indicating significant spare capacity. As an advanced treatment facility, Hayna Erlenbach goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, meeting the stringent requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (2,100 PE), the directive mandates secondary treatment, but the plant's advanced level suggests it operates in a sensitive area or under additional local regulations. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Rhine River basin, which flows through Germany and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The Rhine is a major European waterway supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions. Advanced treatment helps protect this ecologically significant river system from eutrophication and pollution.

The plant discharges into the Rhine River basin, which flows through Germany and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The Rhine supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eel. Advanced nutrient removal at the plant helps reduce the risk of eutrophication in downstream waters, including the sensitive North Sea coastal environment.