Possendorf Eichleite Wastewater Treatment Plant - Saxony, Germany

Possendorf Eichleite is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in the town of Possendorf, within the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge in Saxony, Germany. The facility serves a population of 2,640 and has a designed capacity of 3,650 cubic meters per day, with a reported discharge volume of 399 cubic meters per day. As an advanced treatment plant, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which is typical for plants in sensitive catchment areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), the directive requires appropriate treatment, and advanced treatment is often implemented to protect receiving waters. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Elbe River basin. The Elbe flows through Saxony and into the North Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Elbe River basin. The Elbe River flows through Saxony and northern Germany before reaching the North Sea. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and migratory birds. Advanced treatment at the plant reduces nutrient pollution, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and the North Sea.