Willingshausen _ Loshausen Wastewater Treatment Plant, Loshausen, Hessen

The Willingshausen _ Loshausen wastewater treatment plant is located in Loshausen, a district of Willingshausen in the Schwalm-Eder-Kreis district of Hessen, Germany. Designed to serve a population equivalent of 1,192, the plant had a capacity of 3,060 cubic meters per day and treated an average discharge volume of 583.10 cubic meters per day. The facility is currently closed. The plant provided advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for small agglomerations under 2,000 population equivalent. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The plant's design capacity suggests it was built to accommodate future growth or industrial loads. The treated effluent was discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Schwalm River, a tributary of the Eder, then the Fulda, Weser, and finally the North Sea. The Schwalm-Eder region is characterized by agricultural land use and small settlements, making the protection of water quality important for both ecological health and downstream uses.

The plant's discharge enters the Schwalm River basin, which flows into the Eder River, then the Fulda, Weser, and ultimately the North Sea. The Schwalm-Eder region supports diverse aquatic life and is an important corridor for migratory fish. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading, which is critical in a catchment that drains into the sensitive North Sea ecosystem.