Marcali Szennyviztisztito Telep - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Marcali, Hungary

Marcali Szennyviztisztito Telep is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Marcali, a town in Somogy county within the Dél-Dunántúl region of Hungary. The facility serves a population of approximately 16,471, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU classification. Its location near the Marcal River places it within the Balaton catchment area, a region of ecological importance. As a Hungarian facility serving over 10,000 people, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. For agglomerations of this size, the directive also mandates appropriate treatment to prevent eutrophication in sensitive areas, which includes the nearby Lake Balaton region. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating it is sized to handle the local wastewater load. The treated effluent is discharged into the Marcal River, a tributary of the Zala River, which flows into Lake Balaton, Central Europe's largest lake. Lake Balaton is a vital ecological and recreational resource, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a major tourist destination. The plant's operations are critical to protecting the lake's water quality and preventing nutrient pollution that could lead to algal blooms.

The plant discharges into the Marcal River, which flows into the Zala River and ultimately reaches Lake Balaton, a large freshwater lake in western Hungary. Lake Balaton supports a rich ecosystem of fish, birds, and aquatic plants, and is a key recreational area. The region is ecologically sensitive due to the lake's shallow depth and susceptibility to nutrient enrichment, making effective wastewater treatment essential for preserving water quality and biodiversity.