Overview
The Usedom wastewater treatment plant in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, serves a population of 2,051 with advanced treatment. It discharges 519.06 cubic meters of treated wastewater daily and is located near the Baltic Sea coast.
The Usedom wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Usedom, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 2,051 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated near the Baltic Sea coast, within 10 km of the shoreline. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive coastal waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,750 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average of 519.06 cubic meters per day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a brackish inland sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce the risk of eutrophication in the coastal environment, supporting the ecological health of the region's marine and coastal habitats.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local drainage basin that flows into the Baltic Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with sensitive marine ecosystems. The Baltic Sea is prone to eutrophication due to nutrient inputs from surrounding countries. Advanced treatment at this plant removes nitrogen and phosphorus, helping to protect the coastal waters of the Usedom island region, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important area for migratory birds and marine species.
Frequently asked questions
The Usedom wastewater treatment plant is located at Bäderstraße 7, Usedom, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It serves the town of Usedom and is situated on the island of Usedom near the Baltic Sea coast.
The plant serves a population of approximately 2,051 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately flows into the Baltic Sea. The advanced treatment process includes nutrient removal to protect the sensitive coastal marine environment.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD. This typically includes biological nutrient removal to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads.
Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) of less than 10,000 are generally required to provide secondary treatment. However, plants discharging into sensitive areas like the Baltic Sea may require advanced treatment. The Usedom plant's advanced treatment aligns with the directive's goal of protecting sensitive coastal waters.
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