Leinburg Wastewater Treatment Plant, Diepersdorf, Bavaria

The Leinburg wastewater treatment plant is located in Diepersdorf, a district of Leinburg in the Bavarian region of Germany. It serves a population of approximately 8,570 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated in the Lorenzer Reichswald forest area, near Nuremberg. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU UWWTD (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for inland discharges from agglomerations of this size. Germany implements this through its national water laws, with permits issued by the local water authority. The plant likely employs biological treatment processes to meet effluent standards for organic matter and nutrients. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse within the Regnitz river basin, which flows into the Main River and ultimately the Rhine River. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's groundwater and surface water quality, supporting the ecological health of the Franconian landscape and downstream aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into a small stream within the Regnitz river basin, which flows into the Main River and then the Rhine River, one of Europe's major waterways. The surrounding Lorenzer Reichswald forest is an ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse flora and fauna, including protected species. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this important watershed, preventing nutrient pollution that could harm downstream ecosystems.