KA Elterlein Wastewater Treatment Plant, Elterlein, Saxony

KA Elterlein is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Elterlein, a town in the Erzgebirgskreis district of Saxony, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 2,600 and operates under Germany's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 2,700 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 390 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well within its capacity, ensuring reliable treatment for the community. The treated effluent is discharged into the local Schwarzbach stream, which flows into the Zwönitz River, part of the Zwickauer Mulde basin, ultimately draining into the Elbe River and the North Sea. This waterway supports aquatic life and is important for regional water quality, particularly given the area's historical mining and industrial activity.

KA Elterlein discharges into the Schwarzbach, a tributary of the Zwönitz River, which joins the Zwickauer Mulde and flows into the Elbe River, reaching the North Sea. The Erzgebirge region is ecologically sensitive due to its forested landscapes and historical mining impacts, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting downstream aquatic habitats and drinking water sources.