Overview
Pirmasens Felsalbe wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 20,500 people in Pirmasens, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of thi
Pirmasens Felsalbe is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Pirmasens, a city in the Südwestpfalz district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 20,500, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 10,000 and 150,000. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment process and capacity are consistent with these regulatory standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhine River basin. The Rhine is a major European waterway that flows through Germany and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of this important river system and its downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Felsalbe stream, a tributary of the Schwarzbach, which flows into the Blies, then the Saar, and finally the Moselle River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river network.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Pirmasens, a city in the Südwestpfalz district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Its address is in the Rehtal area of Pirmasens.
The plant serves approximately 20,500 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Felsalbe stream, which flows into the Schwarzbach, then the Blies, Saar, Moselle, and ultimately the Rhine River before reaching 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 PE are required to have at least secondary treatment. Many German plants also incorporate nutrient removal to meet stringent water quality standards.
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