Overview
SKA Grasbeuren is a wastewater treatment plant in Salem, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, serving approximately 10,250 people. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
SKA Grasbeuren is a wastewater treatment facility located in the Grasbeuren district of Salem, in the Bodenseekreis district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The plant serves a population of around 10,250, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. As a German plant, SKA Grasbeuren is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousand cubic meters per day or similar), indicating its scale. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into Lake Constance (Bodensee), one of Europe's largest freshwater lakes. Lake Constance is a critical drinking water reservoir and supports diverse aquatic ecosystems. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast (Lake Constance) underscores its role in protecting this sensitive water body from nutrient pollution.
Environmental context
SKA Grasbeuren discharges into the catchment of Lake Constance (Bodensee), a major European lake that drains via the Rhine River to the North Sea. The lake is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a key drinking water source for millions. Nutrient removal is critical to prevent eutrophication in this deep, oligotrophic lake.
Frequently asked questions
SKA Grasbeuren is located in the Grasbeuren district of Salem, in the Bodenseekreis district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 10,250 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into Lake Constance (Bodensee), a major European lake.
As a German plant, SKA Grasbeuren operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 2,000 and 15,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment in sensitive areas like the Lake Constance catchment.
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