Clervaux Wastewater Treatment Plant | Secondary Treatment in Luxembourg

The Clervaux wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Clervaux, in the canton of Clervaux, Luxembourg. It serves a population of approximately 5,141 people and has a designed capacity of 4,500 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 944.25 m³/day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. As a facility in Luxembourg, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000. For smaller agglomerations like Clervaux, secondary treatment is sufficient to protect the receiving water bodies. The plant's discharge is regulated by national permits issued by the Luxembourgish environmental authorities. The treated wastewater from Clervaux is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Wiltz River, a tributary of the Sauer River, which flows into the Moselle River and ultimately the Rhine River. The Rhine basin is a major European watershed supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, contributing to the ecological health of the downstream river system.

The Clervaux plant discharges into local streams that feed the Wiltz River, part of the Sauer-Moselle-Rhine river system. This watershed supports a variety of fish species, including salmonids, and is an important ecological corridor in the Ardennes region. The plant's secondary treatment helps control nutrient loading, which is critical for preventing eutrophication in downstream water bodies like the Moselle and Rhine.