Krakow Charlottenthal Wastewater Treatment Plant - Krakow am See, Germany

Krakow Charlottenthal is a wastewater treatment plant located in the town of Krakow am See, within the Landkreis Rostock district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,904 residents, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under German and EU regulations. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 7,500 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 677.24 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Baltic Sea via the Warnow or Peene river systems. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the region, including the nearby Krakower See lake and downstream coastal waters, by reducing nutrient loads and pollutants.

The plant discharges into the Hellsee area, which is part of the Krakower See lake system. This lake is a key feature of the Mecklenburg Lake District and drains via the Nebel River into the Warnow River, ultimately reaching the Baltic Sea. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is an important area for migratory birds. Advanced treatment at the plant helps minimize eutrophication risks in these sensitive freshwater and coastal ecosystems.