Pacsa Szennyviztisztito Telep - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Zalaszentmihály, Hungary

Pacsa Szennyviztisztito Telep is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Zalaszentmihály, in the Nyugat-Dunántúl region of Hungary. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,238, placing it in the small agglomeration category under Hungarian and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 9,484 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of about 617 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which flows into the Zala River and eventually reaches Lake Balaton, a large freshwater lake of ecological and recreational importance. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive downstream environment, including the lake's water quality and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Zala River watershed, which flows into Lake Balaton, Central Europe's largest lake. Lake Balaton supports diverse aquatic life and is a key recreational resource. The advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting the lake from eutrophication and maintaining its ecological balance.