Overview
KA STWENDEL is a wastewater treatment plant serving Sankt Wendel, Saarland, Germany, with a population equivalent of 30,500. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
KA STWENDEL is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Sankt Wendel, a town in the Saarland region of southwestern Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 30,500, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location in the Saarland places it within the Rhine basin, a major European watershed. As a German plant serving over 10,000 people, KA STWENDEL is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. For agglomerations of this scale, the directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with German water quality standards. The treated effluent from KA STWENDEL is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Saar River, a tributary of the Moselle, which flows into the Rhine. The Rhine basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical water resource for the region. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality and maintaining the ecological health of the Saar and Rhine rivers.
Environmental context
KA STWENDEL discharges into the local watershed that feeds the Saar River, a major tributary of the Moselle, which in turn flows into the Rhine River. The Rhine basin is one of Europe's most important river systems, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for millions of people. The plant's operations help protect downstream ecosystems, including fish spawning grounds and migratory corridors, from nutrient pollution and organic loading.
Frequently asked questions
KA STWENDEL is located in Sankt Wendel, a town in the Saarland region of southwestern Germany, near the border with France.
KA STWENDEL serves a population equivalent of approximately 30,500, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent from KA STWENDEL is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Saar River, a tributary of the Moselle, which ultimately drains into the Rhine River.
As a German plant serving over 10,000 people, KA STWENDEL operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment and potentially more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
In Germany, plants serving agglomerations of this size typically employ secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum, with additional nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) if the receiving waters are in sensitive areas designated under the EU directive.
Nearby plants