Overview
Daugavpils udens is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 93,000 people in Daugavpils, Latvia. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
Daugavpils udens is the primary wastewater treatment facility for Daugavpils, the second-largest city in Latvia, located in the southeastern part of the country near the border with Belarus. The plant serves a population of approximately 92,806, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a facility in Latvia, it operates within the framework of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary biological treatment for all agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent, and more stringent tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's location in the Daugava River basin places it within a region where nutrient removal may be required to protect the Baltic Sea from eutrophication. However, given its population served and EU regulatory requirements, the facility is expected to provide at least secondary treatment, with potential nutrient removal to meet Baltic Sea Action Plan targets. The plant is situated at 32A Daugavas iela, near the Daugava River, which is the largest river in Latvia and a major tributary to the Baltic Sea. The Daugava River basin covers a significant portion of Latvia and Belarus, and the river ultimately discharges into the Gulf of Riga, part of the Baltic Sea. The environmental significance of Daugavpils udens lies in its role in protecting the Daugava River and the Baltic Sea from untreated wastewater. The Daugava River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it highly sensitive to nutrient pollution. Effective treatment at this plant helps reduce the load of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus entering the river system, contributing to the ecological health of the downstream environment.
Environmental context
Daugavpils udens discharges treated wastewater into the Daugava River, which flows northwest through Latvia and into the Gulf of Riga, part of the Baltic Sea. The Daugava River basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and serving as a migratory route for fish such as salmon and eel. The Baltic Sea is a sensitive marine environment prone to eutrophication, making nutrient removal at treatment plants critical for reducing algal blooms and preserving water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Daugavpils udens is located at 32A Daugavas iela in Daugavpils, Latvia, near the Daugava River.
The plant serves approximately 92,806 people, making it a large agglomeration under EU classification.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Daugava River, which flows into the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea.
As a large agglomeration serving over 10,000 people, the plant is required to provide secondary treatment under the EU UWWTD, with potential tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication.
Plants of this scale in Latvia typically employ secondary biological treatment with nutrient removal to meet Baltic Sea Action Plan targets, reducing nitrogen and phosphorus loads.
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