Overview
PU Ornaments is an advanced wastewater treatment plant serving Ilūkste, Latvia, with a population equivalent of 9,068. It has a designed capacity of 4,170 m³/day and discharges 252.20 m³/day of treated effluent.
PU Ornaments is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located at 47 Pļavu iela in Ilūkste, a town in Augšdaugavas novads, Latvia. The plant serves a population equivalent of 9,068, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. It is an inland facility, not within 10 km of the coast. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 4,170 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 252.20 m³/day, indicating significant reserve capacity. The plant operates under Latvia's national implementation of EU water legislation, which mandates nutrient removal in sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Daugava River basin, which flows into the Baltic Sea via the Gulf of Riga. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Daugava River and the Baltic Sea from nutrient pollution, supporting aquatic life and reducing eutrophication risks in the coastal zone.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Daugava River basin, which flows through Latvia and into the Gulf of Riga, part of the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it highly sensitive to nutrient inputs that cause eutrophication. The advanced treatment at PU Ornaments helps reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads, protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and supporting the recovery of the Baltic Sea's ecological health.
Frequently asked questions
PU Ornaments is located at 47 Pļavu iela in Ilūkste, Augšdaugavas novads, Latvia.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 9,068, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU standards.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Daugava River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea.
PU Ornaments provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment, in line with EU requirements for sensitive areas.
Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations over 10,000 PE require secondary treatment, and those in sensitive areas need advanced treatment. PU Ornaments, serving 9,068 PE, provides advanced treatment, exceeding the directive's minimum requirements and supporting Baltic Sea protection.
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