Overview
Knullwald _ Wallenstein wastewater treatment plant serves Immenhorst, Hessen, Germany, with a population equivalent of 5,000. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations
Knullwald _ Wallenstein is a wastewater treatment plant located in Immenhorst, a locality within the municipality of Knüllwald in the Schwalm-Eder-Kreis district of Hessen, Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of 5,000, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU regulations. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000 discharging into freshwater. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving water body is designated as a sensitive area. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with national standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Fulda River, a tributary of the Weser River, which flows into the North Sea. The surrounding region is characterized by agricultural and forested landscapes, and the plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters local streams that feed into the Fulda River, part of the Weser basin, which drains into the North Sea. The Weser River supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and sea trout. The region's agricultural land use means that nutrient management from wastewater is important to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Immenhorst, a locality in the municipality of Knüllwald, Schwalm-Eder-Kreis district, Hessen, Germany.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 5,000, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that flow into the Fulda River, part of the Weser basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea.
As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent must provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum. In sensitive areas, more stringent treatment may be required.
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