Irrel Wastewater Treatment Plant, Irrel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

The Irrel wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Irrel, in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm district of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 3,000 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated in the Südeifel region, a rural area known for its natural landscapes and proximity to the Luxembourg border. Irrel operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard requirement under the EU UWWTD for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day and currently discharges an average of 574 m³/day of treated wastewater. This indicates a capacity utilization of about 14%, suggesting ample headroom for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent from Irrel is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Sauer River, a tributary of the Moselle. The Moselle flows into the Rhine, which reaches the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Eifel region, including the nearby Prüm River and its tributaries, which support diverse freshwater life.

The Irrel plant discharges into the local watershed of the Prüm River, a tributary of the Sauer River. The Sauer flows into the Moselle, which joins the Rhine and eventually reaches the North Sea. This region is part of the Eifel low mountain range, characterized by forested hills and meandering rivers. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic species, including salmonid fish, and are important for regional biodiversity. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and protect downstream habitats.