Moletu aglomeracija Wastewater Treatment Plant, Svistapolis, Lithuania

Moletu aglomeracija is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Svistapolis, within the Molėtai district municipality of Utenos County, Lithuania. The facility serves a population of approximately 3,800 people and is designed to handle up to 8,000 m³ of wastewater per day, with an average daily discharge of 528.06 m³. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. This level of treatment is typically mandated for sensitive areas to reduce nutrient loads and protect receiving water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters, which eventually drain into the Nemunas River basin and the Baltic Sea. The advanced treatment helps safeguard downstream ecosystems, including the Curonian Lagoon, a ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed into the Nemunas River basin, which ultimately flows into the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. The advanced treatment reduces nutrient pollution, protecting the lagoon's fragile ecosystem, which is a critical habitat for fish and migratory waterfowl. The region's inland location and reliance on surface water drainage make nutrient management essential for preventing eutrophication in downstream waters.