Overview
Niederdorfelden wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 20,000 people in Hessen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Niederdorfelden wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Niederdorfelden, in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis district of Hessen, Germany. The facility serves a population of approximately 20,000 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalents. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Main River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this densely populated and industrialized region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local watershed that flows into the Main River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as an important migratory corridor for fish. Downstream, the Rhine flows through several countries before reaching the North Sea, making water quality management critical for transboundary environmental health.
Frequently asked questions
The Niederdorfelden wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Niederdorfelden, in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis district of Hessen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 20,000 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that flow into the Main River, a major tributary of the Rhine, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and may require tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalents typically require secondary treatment (biological treatment). In sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal may be mandated.
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