Overview
Iserlohn Baarbachtal wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 67,803 people in Iserlohn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The Iserlohn Baarbachtal wastewater treatment plant is located in the Hennen district of Iserlohn, in the Märkischer Kreis region of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 67,803, classifying it as a medium to large agglomeration under EU standards. As a German facility, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Ruhr River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in Western Europe. Proper treatment helps protect water quality in this densely populated and industrialized region.
Environmental context
The treated effluent from Iserlohn Baarbachtal flows into small streams that feed the Ruhr River, which then joins the Rhine River before reaching the North Sea. The Ruhr and Rhine watersheds are ecologically significant, supporting fish species such as salmon and eel, and providing habitat for migratory birds. The region's industrial and urban density makes effective wastewater treatment critical to preventing nutrient pollution and maintaining water quality in this internationally important river system.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Beringweg 1 in the Hennen district of Iserlohn, in the Märkischer Kreis region of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 67,803 people, classifying it as a medium to large agglomeration under EU classification.
The treated wastewater is discharged into local streams that flow into the Ruhr River, a tributary of the Rhine, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 15,000 population equivalent, and tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving over 15,000 population equivalent are required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment). In sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal is also mandated.
Nearby plants