Overview
UWWTP Alphen Kerk and Zanen serves Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands, treating wastewater for approximately 30,617 people. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
UWWTP Alphen Kerk and Zanen is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Alphen aan den Rijn, in the province of Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. The plant serves a population of approximately 30,617 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. As a Dutch plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The Netherlands maintains stringent water quality standards, and plants of this scale typically employ advanced treatment to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant discharges into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the North Sea via the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta. This region is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in this densely populated and agriculturally active area.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the local water network, which flows into the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) river and eventually reaches the North Sea through the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta. This delta is a complex and ecologically sensitive estuarine system that supports diverse aquatic habitats, including wetlands and tidal zones. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in a region known for intensive agriculture and urban development.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Alphen aan den Rijn, in the province of Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. Its address is Rijnhaven-West, Alphen aan den Rijn, 2408 AZ.
The plant serves approximately 30,617 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU wastewater treatment regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local water system, which flows into the Oude Rijn river and ultimately reaches the North Sea via the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta.
As a Dutch plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. National Dutch regulations enforce additional water quality standards.
Plants of this scale in the Netherlands typically employ secondary treatment, often with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters like the North Sea.
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