Kraslavas PKSU Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kaplavas pagasts, Latvia

Kraslavas PKSU is a wastewater treatment plant located in Kaplavas pagasts, Krāslavas novads, Latvia. It serves a population of approximately 7,147 people and has a designed capacity of 15,000 m³/day, indicating it is sized for medium agglomeration scale. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. As an advanced treatment facility, Kraslavas PKSU likely employs processes such as nutrient removal to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads. This is particularly important in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive, which aims to achieve good ecological status for water bodies. The designed capacity suggests it can accommodate future growth. The treated effluent from Kraslavas PKSU is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Daugava River basin. The Daugava River flows through Latvia and into the Baltic Sea, making the plant's advanced treatment crucial for protecting downstream ecosystems. The Baltic Sea is sensitive to nutrient pollution, and advanced treatment helps mitigate eutrophication risks.

Kraslavas PKSU discharges into the Daugava River basin, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it highly sensitive to nutrient inputs. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads, supporting efforts to combat eutrophication and protect aquatic life in the downstream environment.