Overview
Missen Wilhams wastewater treatment plant in Missen-Wilhams, Bavaria, Germany, serves about 3,700 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 776 m³/day of treated effluent, operating under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Missen Wilhams is a wastewater treatment plant located in Missen-Wilhams, a municipality in the Oberallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,700, placing it in the small agglomeration category under EU regulations. It is situated in the Alpine foothills, a region known for its sensitive aquatic environments. 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 4,375 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 776 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. The plant's advanced treatment likely includes nutrient removal to protect downstream water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Danube River basin, flowing towards the Black Sea. The region's streams and rivers support diverse aquatic life and are important for drinking water supply. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect the ecological integrity of the sensitive Alpine watershed.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams in the Oberallgäu region, which flow into the Iller River, a tributary of the Danube. The Danube carries water through several countries before reaching the Black Sea. The Alpine watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting cold-water fish species and pristine aquatic habitats. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream ecosystems and drinking water sources.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Missen-Wilhams, a municipality in the Oberallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany, near the Austrian border.
The plant serves approximately 3,700 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Iller River, a tributary of the Danube, eventually reaching the Black Sea.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent) require appropriate treatment. Missen Wilhams exceeds the minimum by providing advanced treatment, which is beneficial for sensitive Alpine watersheds.
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