SKA Bernau Wastewater Treatment Plant, Unterlehen, Germany

SKA Bernau is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Unterlehen, a district of Bernau im Schwarzwald in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The plant serves a population of 3,400 and is situated in the Black Forest, a mountainous region known for its dense forests and pristine water bodies. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 589.44 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a German facility, it complies with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates advanced treatment for sensitive areas and agglomerations of this scale. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that feed into the Rhine River basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea. The Black Forest ecosystem is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as an important water source for the region. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect these downstream environments from nutrient pollution.

The plant discharges into small streams in the Black Forest, which are part of the Rhine River basin. These streams flow into the High Rhine and eventually the North Sea. The Black Forest is a ecologically sensitive area with numerous protected species and habitats. Advanced treatment at SKA Bernau reduces nutrient loads, safeguarding the aquatic ecosystems downstream.