Overview
Reichstadt wastewater treatment plant in Reichstädt, Thüringen, Germany, provides advanced treatment for a small population. The plant is now closed, having served 1,858 people with a designed capacity of 4,800 m³/day.
Reichstadt wastewater treatment plant is located in Reichstädt, a small town in the Thüringen region of Germany. The plant served a population of 1,858 and was designed with a capacity of 4,800 m³/day, indicating it was built to accommodate a larger population than currently served. The plant is now closed, and its operational history reflects the wastewater management needs of this rural area. The plant provided advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The plant's discharge volume was 470.22 m³/day, well below its designed capacity. The treated effluent was likely discharged into a local watercourse within the Elbe river basin, as Reichstädt lies in the catchment of the Weiße Elster river, a tributary of the Saale and ultimately the Elbe. The plant's advanced treatment helped protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and water quality in the region.
Environmental context
Reichstädt is located in the Thüringen region of Germany, within the catchment of the Weiße Elster river, which flows into the Saale and then the Elbe before reaching the North Sea. The plant's advanced treatment contributed to protecting the local watershed from nutrient pollution, supporting aquatic life and water quality in downstream rivers. The area is characterized by agricultural land use, making nutrient removal important for preventing eutrophication in receiving waters.
Frequently asked questions
Reichstadt wastewater treatment plant is located in Reichstädt, a town in the Thüringen region of Germany. The plant served the local community and is now closed.
The plant served a population of 1,858 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Reichstadt plant provided advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal to protect sensitive water bodies. This exceeds the secondary treatment standard required for small agglomerations in Germany.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations under 2,000 population equivalent are generally required to have appropriate treatment. Reichstadt's advanced treatment goes beyond the directive's minimum requirements for its size.
The plant's advanced treatment helped reduce nutrient loads to the local watershed, which drains into the Weiße Elster river and ultimately the North Sea. This protects downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and supports water quality.
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