Overview
Elounta wastewater treatment plant serves the community of Elounta in Crete, Greece, with a population equivalent of 4,181. The plant is located within 50 km of the coast, discharging into the sensitive marine environment of the Aegean Sea.
The Elounta wastewater treatment plant is situated in the Elounta community, part of the Agios Nikolaos municipal unit in the Lasithi regional unit of Crete, Greece. This facility serves a population equivalent of 4,181, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under Greek and EU regulations. As a Greek plant, Elounta operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating a modest scale appropriate for the local population. The treated effluent from Elounta ultimately reaches the Aegean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with significant ecological importance. The coastal waters around Crete support diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to protect these habitats from nutrient pollution and ensure water quality for tourism and local communities.
Environmental context
The Elounta plant discharges into the coastal waters of the Aegean Sea near the Gulf of Mirabello. This area is part of the Cretan Sea, which supports ecologically sensitive marine habitats such as Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and coralligenous reefs. The region is also important for migratory fish and marine mammals. Effective wastewater treatment helps prevent eutrophication and maintains the ecological balance of this coastal ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
The Elounta wastewater treatment plant is located in the Elounta community, within the Agios Nikolaos municipal unit of the Lasithi regional unit, Crete, Greece.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 4,181, making it a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU classification.
The treated effluent from the Elounta plant is discharged into coastal waters of the Aegean Sea, specifically near the Gulf of Mirabello in Crete.
As a Greek facility, the Elounta plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters.
For agglomerations of this scale in Greece, secondary treatment is typically required under EU directives, often involving biological processes to reduce organic matter and nutrients before coastal discharge.
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