Volmetal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lüdenscheid, Nordrhein-Westfalen

The Volmetal wastewater treatment plant is located in Lüdenscheid, within the Märkischer Kreis district of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It serves a population equivalent of approximately 29,191, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated in the Volme River valley, an area characterized by mixed urban and industrial land use. As a German facility operating under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the plant is required to provide at least secondary treatment for its population load. For agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent, the directive mandates secondary treatment as a minimum, with tertiary treatment required if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's specific treatment process and capacity details are not publicly available in this record. The treated effluent from the Volmetal plant is discharged into the Volme River, a tributary of the Ruhr River, which ultimately flows into the Rhine River and then the North Sea. The Volme River supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the Rhine basin, one of Europe's most important river systems. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems.

The Volmetal plant discharges into the Volme River, which flows into the Ruhr River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin drains into the North Sea, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and serving as a critical migratory corridor for fish species. The region's industrial history and urban development place importance on effective wastewater treatment to maintain water quality and ecological balance.