Overview
SKA ELT Auerbach is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Auerbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, serving approximately 3,000 people. It discharges treated water into the local Elz river system, part of the Neckar basin.
SKA ELT Auerbach is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Auerbach, a district of Elztal in the Neckar-Odenwald district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The plant serves a population of about 3,000 and is designed with a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day, indicating it is sized for the local community's needs. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies, aligning with Germany's stringent water quality standards. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Elz river, a tributary of the Neckar, which flows into the Rhine and ultimately the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in the Elz and Neckar watersheds, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Elz river, a small tributary of the Neckar river, which flows into the Rhine and then the North Sea. The Neckar basin supports diverse aquatic habitats and is an important corridor for migratory fish. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
SKA ELT Auerbach is located in Auerbach, a district of Elztal in the Neckar-Odenwald district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The address is Elztalweg, Auerbach, 74834.
The plant serves approximately 3,000 people, consistent with its designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day.
Treated wastewater is discharged into the Elz river, a tributary of the Neckar, which flows into the Rhine and eventually the North Sea.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment. This is typical for plants in sensitive catchment areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into German law. For agglomerations of 3,000 population equivalent, secondary treatment is required, but advanced treatment is often mandated in sensitive areas like the Rhine basin.
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