Overview
Herscheid wastewater treatment plant serves the town of Herscheid in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It treats wastewater from approximately 4,688 people under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The Herscheid wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Herscheid, within the Märkischer Kreis district of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,688 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). As a German plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it is subject to national regulations implementing the EU directive, which typically require secondary treatment for freshwater discharges. The plant operates within Germany's strict wastewater standards, overseen by the state environmental agency of Nordrhein-Westfalen. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Rhine River basin, a major European watershed. The Rhine and its tributaries support diverse aquatic ecosystems and provide drinking water for millions downstream.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams in the Sauerland region, which flow into the Lenne River, a tributary of the Ruhr River. The Ruhr eventually joins the Rhine River, which empties into the North Sea. This watershed supports important fish populations, including salmonids in the upper reaches, and the Rhine is a critical migratory corridor for European eel and Atlantic salmon.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Herscheid, a town in the Märkischer Kreis district of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 4,688 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Lenne River, part of the Rhine basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea.
As a plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it falls under the EU directive's requirements for appropriate treatment, typically secondary treatment, for freshwater discharges.
German plants of this size generally employ secondary biological treatment, often with nutrient removal, to meet national standards derived from the EU directive.
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