Zentralklarwerk Sud Sereetz, Ratekau

Overview

Zentralklarwerk Sud Sereetz in Ratekau, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany serves approximately 37,250 people. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.

Zentralklarwerk Sud Sereetz is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Ratekau, within the district of Ostholstein in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 37,250, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under European Union regulations. As a German facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent. Typical capacities for this population size range from 10,000 to 15,000 cubic meters per day. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Baltic Sea via the Trave River and the Bay of Lubeck. This coastal region supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological zone for migratory fish species and marine biodiversity.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the Trave River catchment, which flows into the Bay of Lubeck and then the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed brackish sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The region supports diverse aquatic life, including fish spawning grounds and migratory bird habitats. Proper treatment is essential to prevent eutrophication and protect the coastal ecosystem.

Frequently asked questions

Zentralklarwerk Sud Sereetz is located in Ratekau, in the district of Ostholstein, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The address is Alte Travemünder Landstraße, Ratekau, 23611.

The plant serves approximately 37,250 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.

The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Trave River and ultimately reaches the Baltic Sea via the Bay of Lubeck.

As a German plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. Compliance is enforced by German state authorities.

For agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent, the EU UWWTD mandates secondary treatment. Many German plants also implement tertiary treatment to reduce nutrients, especially in sensitive areas like the Baltic Sea catchment.