Overview
Reken wastewater treatment plant serves the community of Hülsten in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It treats wastewater for approximately 10,732 people as part of the region's municipal infrastructure.
Reken wastewater treatment plant is located in Hülsten, a locality within the municipality of Reken in the district of Borken, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 10,732, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under German and EU regulations. As a German plant serving over 10,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum for such agglomerations. The plant is part of the state-managed wastewater infrastructure in Nordrhein-Westfalen, overseen by the Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz (LANUV). The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Rhine River basin, which flows into the North Sea. Its operation helps protect the region's groundwater and surface water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems in the lowland landscapes of western Germany.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters local streams that are part of the Rhine River basin, eventually reaching the North Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the North German Plain. The region's sandy soils and agricultural land use require careful nutrient management to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Hülsten, a locality in the municipality of Reken, Kreis Borken, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 10,732 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU wastewater directives.
The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Rhine River basin, which flows into the North Sea. It helps protect regional groundwater and surface water quality.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 people must provide at least secondary treatment. Reken, serving about 10,732, falls into this category and is required to meet secondary treatment standards.
In Germany, plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment, often with nutrient removal to meet stringent German and EU water quality standards. They are regulated by state environmental agencies like LANUV in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Nearby plants