Kelheim OT Staubing_Weltenburg Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kelheim, Bavaria

Kelheim OT Staubing_Weltenburg is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Staubing district of Kelheim, in the state of Bavaria, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 2,400 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure in the Danube basin. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU UWWTD for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 607.38 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variability. As a German facility, it is subject to the national Wasserhaushaltsgesetz (Water Resources Act) and the Abwasserverordnung (Wastewater Ordinance), which implement EU directives and set stringent effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately flow into the Danube River, a major European waterway draining into the Black Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Danube's water quality and the downstream ecosystems, including the Danube Delta, a ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic life and migratory bird populations.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed into the Danube River, which flows through Bavaria and several other countries before reaching the Black Sea. The Danube basin is a vital ecological corridor, supporting diverse fish species, including sturgeon, and providing habitat for numerous waterbirds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, contributing to the health of downstream waters and the prevention of eutrophication in the Black Sea.