Rieden am Forggensee Wastewater Treatment Plant - Closed Facility in Bavaria, Germany

Rieden am Forggensee is a former wastewater treatment plant located in the municipality of Rieden am Forggensee, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany. The plant served a small population of 1,283 people, typical of a rural community in the Alpine foothills. It operated with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. The plant had a designed capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day and discharged an average volume of 324.7 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment facility, it removed organic matter and suspended solids before releasing effluent. The plant is now closed, and its operational history reflects the regulatory framework of the EU, which mandates secondary treatment for all inland discharges from agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent. The treated effluent from the plant would have entered the local water system, ultimately draining into the Forggensee, a large reservoir on the River Lech. The Forggensee is an important ecological and recreational water body in the Bavarian Alps, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a habitat for fish and bird species.

The plant discharged into the Forggensee, a reservoir on the River Lech, which flows through the Bavarian Alps and eventually joins the Danube River. The Forggensee is a key water body for local biodiversity, supporting fish populations and migratory birds. The surrounding region is ecologically sensitive due to its alpine character and tourism value, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting water quality.