Hohenfelde Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hohenfelde, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Hohenfelde wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Hohenfelde, within the district of Plön in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The plant served a small population of 1,037 people and is now listed as closed. Its location near the Baltic Sea coast places it in a sensitive coastal environment. The plant provided secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. Although the plant is closed, its historical capacity of 3,180 cubic meters per day indicates it was designed to handle flows beyond the current population, possibly accounting for seasonal variations or future growth. Situated less than 10 kilometers from the Baltic Sea, the plant's discharge would have directly influenced coastal water quality. The Baltic Sea is a brackish inland sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient inputs. Proper treatment was essential to protect marine ecosystems and comply with German and EU regulations for sensitive areas.

The plant is located in the Baltic Sea catchment area, less than 10 km from the coast. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed brackish sea with limited water exchange, making it highly sensitive to eutrophication from nutrient discharges. The region's watershed includes small coastal streams that drain directly into the Baltic, supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory bird populations. Effective wastewater treatment is critical to prevent algal blooms and maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive marine environment.