Overview
The Volos wastewater treatment plant serves the city of Volos in Thessaly, Greece, with a population equivalent of 167,000. It is located near the Pagasetic Gulf, a semi-enclosed coastal water body.
The Volos wastewater treatment plant serves the city of Volos, the capital of Magnesia in the Thessaly region of Greece. With a population equivalent of 167,000, it is classified as a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant is situated near the coast of the Pagasetic Gulf, a semi-enclosed embayment of the Aegean Sea. As a large agglomeration in a sensitive coastal area, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment, and likely tertiary treatment to meet nutrient removal standards required by the EU directive for discharges into sensitive areas. The designed capacity is reported as 1. The plant's treated effluent discharges into the Pagasetic Gulf, which connects to the Aegean Sea and ultimately the Mediterranean Sea. The gulf supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries and tourism. Proper treatment is essential to prevent eutrophication and protect the ecological health of this coastal environment.
Environmental context
The Volos plant discharges into the Pagasetic Gulf, a semi-enclosed embayment of the Aegean Sea. This coastal water body is ecologically sensitive due to limited water exchange, making it vulnerable to nutrient enrichment from wastewater. The gulf supports diverse marine habitats and is an important area for fisheries and recreation. Downstream, the Aegean Sea connects to the broader Mediterranean Sea, a region of high biodiversity.
Frequently asked questions
The Volos wastewater treatment plant is located in the city of Volos, in the Magnesia regional unit of Thessaly, Greece. It is situated near the coast of the Pagasetic Gulf.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 167,000, classifying it as a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent from the Volos plant is discharged into the Pagasetic Gulf, a semi-enclosed coastal embayment of the Aegean Sea.
As a Greek plant serving over 150,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires at least secondary treatment and likely tertiary treatment for nutrient removal in sensitive coastal areas.
For a large agglomeration in a coastal sensitive area like Volos, the EU directive mandates secondary treatment as a minimum, with tertiary treatment (nutrient removal) typically required to protect the Pagasetic Gulf from eutrophication.
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