Koserow Wastewater Treatment Plant, Koserow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

The Koserow wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Koserow on the island of Usedom in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 3,772 and has a designed capacity of 5,000 m³/day, currently discharging 954.6 m³/day of treated effluent. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires advanced treatment for discharges into sensitive coastal areas. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge. As a facility serving a medium agglomeration (under 10,000 people), it meets the directive's requirements for secondary treatment, with additional nutrient removal likely implemented to protect the Baltic Sea, which is designated as a sensitive area under the directive. The treated effluent is discharged into the Baltic Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it vulnerable to eutrophication. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, supporting the ecological health of the coastal waters and the broader Baltic Sea ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Baltic Sea, a brackish inland sea connected to the North Sea via the Kattegat and Skagerrak. The Baltic Sea is highly sensitive to nutrient pollution, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion. The advanced treatment at Koserow reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loads, helping to mitigate eutrophication in the coastal zone of Usedom Island, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important area for migratory birds.