Kellinghusen Wastewater Treatment Plant, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Kellinghusen wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Kellinghusen, in the Steinburg district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 21,400 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated in a rural area near the Stör river, which flows into the Elbe. As a German facility, Kellinghusen operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousand cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating it is sized to handle the local wastewater load. Treatment processes typically include mechanical and biological stages to meet German effluent standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the Stör river, a tributary of the Elbe, which ultimately flows into the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local aquatic ecosystem and downstream water quality in the Elbe estuary, a region important for migratory fish and bird species.

The plant discharges into the Stör river, a tributary of the Elbe, which flows into the North Sea. The Elbe estuary is a critical habitat for migratory fish such as salmon and eel, and supports diverse bird populations. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting this sensitive downstream environment.