Nusttal _ Silges Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mackenzell, Hessen

Nusttal _ Silges is a former wastewater treatment plant located in Mackenzell, a district of Hünfeld in the Landkreis Fulda, Hessen, Germany. The plant served a small population of 375 people and was designed with a capacity of 2100 m³/day. It is now closed and no longer in operation. The plant provided secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. For populations under 2000, the directive allows appropriate treatment, and secondary treatment meets that requirement. The plant's closure may reflect consolidation of wastewater services in the region. The plant's discharge likely entered local watercourses that drain into the Fulda River, a tributary of the Weser River system, which ultimately flows to the North Sea. The surrounding area is rural and characterized by the Rhön Mountains, a low mountain range with sensitive aquatic habitats.

The plant's treated effluent would have entered small streams in the Fulda River basin, which flows northward through Hessen to join the Weser River. The Weser drains into the North Sea, supporting diverse aquatic life and important migratory fish species such as salmon and sea trout. The Rhön region is known for its high ecological value, with numerous protected areas and water bodies that require careful management to prevent nutrient pollution.