Overview
KA WEITEN is a closed advanced wastewater treatment plant in Mettlach, Saarland, Germany, serving 1,250 people with a designed capacity of 1,450 m³/day.
KA WEITEN is a former wastewater treatment plant located in the Weiten district of Mettlach, in the Saarland region of Germany. The plant served a small population of 1,250 people and had a designed capacity of 1,450 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 316.35 cubic meters per day. The plant was classified as providing advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal to protect sensitive water bodies. The plant is now closed, and its wastewater is likely diverted to another facility in the region. Given its location in the Saarland, treated effluent likely discharged into a tributary of the Saar River, which flows into the Moselle and then the Rhine. The Rhine basin is a major European waterway supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions. The closure of this plant may reflect consolidation of wastewater services in the area.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge would have entered a local watercourse in the Saarland, ultimately draining into the Saar River, a tributary of the Moselle, which joins the Rhine. The Rhine basin is ecologically significant, supporting migratory fish species and providing habitat for diverse aquatic organisms. The advanced treatment level suggests the receiving water body may have been sensitive to nutrient pollution, requiring phosphorus and nitrogen removal to prevent eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
KA WEITEN is located in the Weiten district of Mettlach, in the Saarland region of Germany, near the border with Luxembourg.
KA WEITEN provided advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment. This is typical for plants discharging into sensitive water bodies under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant is listed as closed, likely due to consolidation of wastewater services in the region. Wastewater from the area is probably treated at a larger, more efficient facility.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000 require secondary treatment. Although KA WEITEN served only 1,250 people, it provided advanced treatment, indicating it discharged into a sensitive area.
In Germany, small wastewater treatment plants serving fewer than 2,000 people often use biological treatment with nutrient removal, especially in sensitive catchments. Advanced treatment is common to meet strict effluent standards.
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