Overview
Wankendorf wastewater treatment plant in Belau, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, serves 6,000 people with advanced treatment and a designed capacity of 8,000 m³/day.
The Wankendorf wastewater treatment plant is located in Belau, within the Bokhorst-Wankendorf municipality in the Plön district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 6,000 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under German and EU regulations. 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. With a designed capacity of 8,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of about 752 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Baltic Sea via the Schwentine River system. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive Baltic Sea catchment area from nutrient pollution, supporting aquatic life and reducing eutrophication risks in downstream coastal waters.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Schwentine River basin, which flows into the Kiel Fjord and then the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a brackish, semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it highly sensitive to nutrient inputs. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads, mitigating eutrophication and supporting the health of marine ecosystems, including fish spawning grounds and migratory bird habitats.
Frequently asked questions
The Wankendorf wastewater treatment plant is located in Belau, within the Bokhorst-Wankendorf municipality in the Plön district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
The plant serves approximately 6,000 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under German and EU wastewater regulations.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment, helping to protect sensitive water bodies like the Baltic Sea.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size require at least secondary treatment. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds this standard, particularly important for discharges into the Baltic Sea catchment, which is designated as a sensitive area.
The plant has a designed capacity of 8,000 m³/day, with a current average discharge of about 752 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity.
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