Overview
Oberhof wastewater treatment plant in Thüringen, Germany serves about 4,000 people with advanced treatment. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,800 m³/day and discharges 867.54 m³/day.
The Oberhof wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Oberhof, in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Thüringen, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 4,000 residents, typical of a small mountain community in the Thüringer Wald region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which exceed 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 4,800 m³/day and an average daily discharge of 867.54 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal fluctuations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Ohra River, a tributary of the Unstrut, which flows into the Saale and eventually the Elbe River. The plant plays a key role in protecting the sensitive forest ecosystems and drinking water resources of the Thüringer Wald region.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters small streams in the Thüringer Wald, which flow into the Ohra River, then the Unstrut, Saale, and finally the Elbe River before reaching the North Sea. The region is characterized by forested hills and is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a water source for downstream communities. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the receiving waters from eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Am Schloßberg in Oberhof, Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Thüringen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 4,000 residents in the town of Oberhof and surrounding areas.
The plant uses advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the standard secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants before discharge.
The treated effluent flows into local streams that feed the Ohra River, a tributary of the Unstrut, which drains into the Saale and Elbe rivers, ultimately reaching the North Sea.
As a German facility serving a small agglomeration, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires at least secondary treatment. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds these requirements, ensuring high environmental protection.
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