Overview
UWWTP ASTEN serves approximately 49,815 people in Asten, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
UWWTP ASTEN is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Asten, a town in the province of Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 49,815, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location in the southern Netherlands places it within a region characterized by intensive agriculture and urban development. As a plant serving over 10,000 people, UWWTP ASTEN is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. For agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent, the directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The Netherlands has extensive sensitive water bodies, including those in the Rhine and Meuse basins, which may influence treatment requirements. The treated effluent from UWWTP ASTEN is discharged into local surface waters that ultimately drain into the Meuse River basin. The Meuse flows northward through the Netherlands before entering the North Sea via the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta. This delta is a critical ecological zone, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing important migratory corridors for fish and bird species. The plant's performance directly affects the water quality of these downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
UWWTP ASTEN discharges into local waterways that are part of the Meuse River basin. The Meuse flows through the Netherlands and joins the Rhine delta before entering the North Sea. This delta region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and serving as a vital stopover for migratory birds. Nutrient and pollutant loads from upstream treatment plants can impact the health of these downstream ecosystems, including the North Sea coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
UWWTP ASTEN is located in Asten, a town in the province of Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. The address is Waardjesweg 50, 5721 TC Asten.
The plant serves approximately 49,815 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters that are part of the Meuse River basin, which ultimately flows into the North Sea via the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta.
As a Dutch plant serving over 10,000 people, UWWTP ASTEN operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and potentially more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
For agglomerations of this size in the Netherlands, secondary treatment is standard, and tertiary treatment (nutrient removal) is often required due to sensitive receiving waters in the Rhine and Meuse basins.
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