Overview
Achel wastewater treatment plant serves the town of Achel in Limburg, Netherlands. It handles wastewater from approximately 10,900 people as part of the region's municipal infrastructure.
Achel wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Achel, within the province of Limburg in the Netherlands. The plant serves a population of approximately 10,900 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under European Union classification. As a Dutch facility, it operates under the national implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for collection and treatment based on population equivalents. Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalents are generally required to have secondary treatment, with more stringent requirements if discharging into sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with discharge standards to protect water quality. The treated effluent from Achel likely discharges into local watercourses that drain into the Meuse River basin, which flows northward through the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the regional aquatic environment from nutrient pollution and organic loads, supporting the ecological health of downstream waters.
Environmental context
Achel is situated in the Meuse River basin, with local drainage eventually reaching the North Sea via the Meuse and its distributaries. The region's water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are important for migratory fish species. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient inputs that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in downstream lakes and coastal zones.
Frequently asked questions
The Achel wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Achel, in the province of Limburg, Netherlands. Its address is 179, Kluizerdijk, Achel, Hamont-Achel, Maaseik, Limburg.
The Achel WWTP serves approximately 10,900 people, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU definitions.
The treated wastewater from Achel is discharged into local watercourses that are part of the Meuse River basin, eventually flowing to the North Sea.
As a Dutch plant, Achel operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of its size and may impose additional nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas.
In the Netherlands, plants serving around 10,900 people typically provide at least secondary biological treatment, often including nutrient removal to meet stringent water quality standards under the EU UWWTD and national regulations.
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