Overview
Schwerte wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 41,000 people in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, ensuring compliance with secondary treatment standards for inland waters.
The Schwerte wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility located in the city of Schwerte, within the district of Unna in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Serving a population of around 41,000, it plays a key role in managing wastewater from this urban area in the Ruhr region. As a German plant of this scale, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent above 15,000 discharging into inland waters. The plant's design and operation align with these standards, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and nutrients. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Ruhr River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in Western Europe. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality and the broader Rhine ecosystem.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Ruhr River catchment, which flows into the Rhine River and eventually the North Sea. The Ruhr and Rhine rivers support diverse fish populations, including salmonids, and are vital for regional biodiversity. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this densely populated and industrialized region, reducing nutrient loads that could cause eutrophication downstream.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Schwerte, in the district of Unna, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, at Untere Meischede in the Wandhofen area.
The plant serves approximately 40,992 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Ruhr River, a major tributary of the Rhine, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
As a German plant serving over 15,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for inland discharges.
Plants of this scale in Germany are typically required to provide secondary treatment, including biological treatment, to meet EU standards for organic matter and nutrient removal.
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