Wurzbach Wastewater Treatment Plant, Thüringen, Germany

The Wurzbach wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Wurzbach, in the Saale-Orla-Kreis district of Thüringen, Germany. It serves a population of approximately 3,673 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under German and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,250 cubic meters per day and an average daily discharge of 440.91 cubic meters, the plant operates well within its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Saale River, a major tributary of the Elbe River. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local aquatic environment and downstream water quality in the Saale basin.

The plant discharges into a small stream that flows into the Saale River, which ultimately joins the Elbe River and drains into the North Sea. The Saale basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in central Germany. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and protect the receiving waters from eutrophication.