Brocenu NAI Wastewater Treatment Plant, Brocēni, Latvia

Brocenu NAI is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Brocēni, a town in Saldus novads, Latvia. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,768 people and operates with a designed capacity of 8,100 m³ per day, while current discharge volume is 265.32 m³ per day. As a secondary treatment plant, Brocenu NAI employs biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the standards set by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For small agglomerations like Brocēni (under 2,000 population equivalent), the directive requires appropriate treatment to ensure receiving waters are not adversely affected. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Baltic Sea via the Venta River basin. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the region's aquatic ecosystems, including the Venta River, which supports diverse fish populations and is an important migratory corridor for salmonids.

The plant discharges into the Venta River basin, which flows through western Latvia and into the Baltic Sea near Ventspils. The Venta River is known for its scenic waterfalls and supports a variety of fish species, including salmon and trout. The treatment plant helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed, reducing nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.