Plossberg Wastewater Treatment Plant, Schönkirch, Bavaria

Plossberg wastewater treatment plant is located in the village of Schönkirch, part of the Plößberg municipality in the Tirschenreuth district of Bavaria, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 3,117 and is classified as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU UWWTD for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day and an average daily flow of 732.60 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Waldnaab River, a tributary of the Naab, which flows into the Danube River and then into the Black Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watershed and downstream aquatic ecosystems from untreated sewage.

The plant discharges into a small stream that feeds into the Waldnaab River, part of the Danube basin. The Waldnaab flows through the Upper Palatinate Forest, a region known for its diverse aquatic life and sensitive ecosystems. Downstream, the Danube supports numerous fish species and migratory birds, making the plant's secondary treatment essential for maintaining water quality in this ecologically important river system.