Rheda Wiedenbruck Rheda, Rheda-Wiedenbrück

Overview

Rheda Wiedenbruck Rheda wastewater treatment plant serves the city of Rheda-Wiedenbrück in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, with a population equivalent of 85,103. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

The Rheda Wiedenbruck Rheda wastewater treatment plant is located in the city of Rheda-Wiedenbrück, in the district of Gütersloh, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 85,103, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a German plant of this scale, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment as a minimum, and tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with stringent standards for nutrient removal and effluent quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Ems River system, which flows northward through North Rhine-Westphalia and into the North Sea. The surrounding region is characterized by mixed urban and agricultural land use, and the plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems from nutrient pollution.

Environmental context

The plant's treated effluent enters the local tributaries of the Ems River, which flows through the lowlands of Nordrhein-Westfalen before reaching the North Sea. The Ems basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall nutrient load in the river, making advanced treatment essential to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located in the city of Rheda-Wiedenbrück, in the district of Gütersloh, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

The plant serves a population equivalent of 85,103, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.

The plant discharges treated effluent into local tributaries of the Ems River, which flows northward to the North Sea.

As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for large agglomerations and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.

For agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent, the EU UWWTD mandates secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nitrogen and phosphorus removal is required to protect water quality.