Reichenbach Wastewater Treatment Plant, Reichenbach, Bayern, Germany

The Reichenbach wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Reichenbach, in the Landkreis Kronach district of Bayern, Germany. It served a small population of 727 residents before its closure. The plant was part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for this rural community in the Franconian Forest region. As a secondary treatment facility, Reichenbach provided biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size (under 2,000 population equivalent) are typically required to have appropriate treatment, though secondary treatment is common for smaller plants in Germany. The plant had a designed capacity of 1,100 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 183.99 m³/day. The treated effluent from the plant was discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Haßlach River, a tributary of the Rodach, which flows into the Main River and ultimately the Rhine Basin. The plant's closure means wastewater from Reichenbach is now likely handled by a neighboring facility or alternative system, ensuring continued protection of the local watershed.

The plant's discharge entered the Haßlach River system, part of the Rhine Basin that drains into the North Sea. The surrounding region is characterized by forested hills and small streams that support diverse aquatic life. The plant's secondary treatment helped reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality in the Rodach and Main rivers.