Overview
Markt Rettenbach wastewater treatment plant in Gottenau, Bavaria, Germany, serves 4,300 people with advanced treatment and a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day.
The Markt Rettenbach wastewater treatment plant is located in Gottenau, a district of Markt Rettenbach in the Unterallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 4,300 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under German and EU regulations. The plant 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 4,000 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of about 883 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity, indicating effective management of local wastewater flows. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Danube River basin via the Iller or Lech river systems. This region is part of the larger Danube watershed, which flows into the Black Sea. The advanced treatment helps protect sensitive downstream ecosystems, including the Danube Delta, a critical habitat for diverse aquatic species.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Danube River basin, which flows through Bavaria and eventually reaches the Black Sea. The Danube watershed supports a wide range of aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as sturgeon. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream lakes and coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Gottenau, a district of Markt Rettenbach, in the Unterallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 4,300 people, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size.
Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000 must have secondary treatment. Markt Rettenbach, serving 4,300 people, meets this requirement and exceeds it with advanced treatment, which is often required in sensitive areas.
The plant has a designed capacity of 4,000 m³ per day, with an actual discharge volume of about 883 m³ per day, indicating it operates well within its capacity.
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