Overview
KA Riesa is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving Riesa, Saxony, Germany. It treats wastewater from approximately 71,167 people, operating under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
KA Riesa is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Riesa, Saxony, Germany. The facility serves a population of approximately 71,167 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Situated in the Elbe River basin, the plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality. As a German plant, KA Riesa operates under 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. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these stringent standards, ensuring compliance with national and EU regulations. The treated effluent from KA Riesa is discharged into the Elbe River, which flows north through Germany into the North Sea. The Elbe is a major European waterway, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing drinking water for downstream communities. By treating wastewater to high standards, the plant helps reduce nutrient loads and protect the ecological health of the Elbe and the North Sea.
Environmental context
KA Riesa discharges treated wastewater into the Elbe River, which flows through Saxony and eventually into the North Sea near Cuxhaven. The Elbe basin supports a variety of aquatic life, including fish species such as salmon and eel, and is an important migratory corridor. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically significant river system.
Frequently asked questions
KA Riesa is located in Riesa, Saxony, Germany, near the Elbe River.
KA Riesa serves approximately 71,167 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
KA Riesa discharges treated wastewater into the Elbe River, which flows through Germany and into the North Sea.
As a German plant serving over 10,000 people, KA Riesa is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and, if necessary, more advanced treatment in sensitive areas.
Plants serving around 70,000 people in Germany typically employ secondary biological treatment, often with nutrient removal, to meet EU standards and protect receiving waters like the Elbe River.
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