Kotschlitz Wastewater Treatment Plant, Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Kotschlitz is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Leuna district of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It serves a population of 9,453 and operates with advanced treatment technology, ensuring high-quality effluent. The plant has a designed capacity of 10,000 m³/day and currently processes 691.64 m³/day of wastewater. As an advanced treatment facility, Kotschlitz meets the stringent requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates tertiary treatment for sensitive areas. For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 PE), the directive requires secondary treatment, but the plant exceeds this standard with advanced processes. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies within the Saale river basin, which flows into the Elbe and ultimately the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality and supporting downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Saale river system, a tributary of the Elbe, which flows into the North Sea. The Saale basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream habitats from eutrophication.