Overview
Hermsdorf wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 18,575 people in Thüringen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
Hermsdorf wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Hermsdorf, within the Saale-Holzland-Kreis district of Thüringen, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 18,575 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 10,000 and 150,000. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with national and EU standards. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Saale River, a major tributary of the Elbe River. The Elbe flows into the North Sea, making the plant part of a larger transboundary river basin. The surrounding region is characterized by mixed agricultural and urban land use, and the plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local watershed, which feeds into the Saale River, a tributary of the Elbe River. The Elbe flows through Germany and the Czech Republic before reaching the North Sea. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's operations help reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in downstream waters, including the sensitive North Sea coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Hermsdorf, in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis district of Thüringen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 18,575 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that flow into the Saale River, a tributary of the Elbe River, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent must provide at least secondary treatment. Many German plants also incorporate nutrient removal to meet stringent water quality standards.
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