Winkel Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bad Liebenwerda, Brandenburg

Winkel wastewater treatment plant is located in the Maasdorf district of Bad Liebenwerda, in the Elbe-Elster district of Brandenburg, Germany. The plant serves a population of 3,789 and operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 5,000 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 249.32 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. As a German facility, it is subject to the national implementation of the EU UWWTD, which mandates secondary treatment for inland plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalents. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Elbe River basin. The Elbe flows through eastern Germany before reaching the North Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and serving as a critical water resource for the region.

The plant discharges into the Elbe River basin, which flows through Brandenburg and eventually into the North Sea. The Elbe supports a variety of fish species and migratory birds, making it an ecologically important corridor. Secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and protect downstream water quality.