PU zilupes pilsetas DzKSU - Zilupe Wastewater Treatment Plant, Latvia

PU zilupes pilsetas DzKSU is a wastewater treatment plant located in Zilupe, a town in the Ludza Municipality of Latvia. The plant serves a small population of 207 residents and is classified as a secondary treatment facility. It is currently closed, and its operational status reflects the challenges of maintaining infrastructure for small agglomerations. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,200 cubic meters per day, though the actual discharge volume is 39.51 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment plant, it meets the basic requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive aims to protect water bodies from pollution by ensuring adequate treatment before discharge. The plant's discharge likely enters a local watercourse within the Daugava River basin, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a sensitive ecosystem with eutrophication risks, making proper wastewater treatment crucial for reducing nutrient loads. The plant's closure may have implications for local water quality, though alternative treatment arrangements may be in place.

The plant is located inland in the Daugava River basin, which drains into the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a brackish water body with limited water exchange, making it vulnerable to nutrient pollution from wastewater. Even small discharges can contribute to algal blooms and oxygen depletion in coastal zones. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic matter and some nutrients, but the closure may affect local water quality in the immediate receiving water body.