Weihenzell Wastewater Treatment Plant, Frankendorf, Bayern

The Weihenzell wastewater treatment plant is located in Frankendorf, a district of the municipality of Weihenzell in the Landkreis Ansbach, Bayern, Germany. The plant serves a population of 2,560 and operates under Germany's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant provides secondary treatment, meeting the standard requirements for inland communities under the EU directive. With a designed capacity of 3,200 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 828.88 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity, indicating efficient management of local wastewater flows. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Regnitz river system, which flows into the Main and ultimately the Rhine. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of these rivers and the downstream environment, supporting aquatic life and regional water resources.

The plant discharges into small streams that feed into the Regnitz river, a tributary of the Main, which flows into the Rhine. The Rhine basin is a major European waterway supporting diverse ecosystems and providing drinking water for millions. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting the ecological health of these waters.