Overview
UWWTP Bellingwolde serves approximately 4,347 people in Groningen, Netherlands. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
UWWTP Bellingwolde is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Bellingwolde, a village in the province of Groningen, Netherlands. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,347 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 volume units, reflecting its role in managing local domestic wastewater. As a Dutch treatment plant, UWWTP Bellingwolde operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000. The Netherlands implements this directive through national legislation, ensuring that plants of this scale provide appropriate treatment to protect water quality. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with effluent standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the North Sea via the Ems River and Dollard estuary. This region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as an important migratory corridor for birds. The treatment plant plays a key role in reducing nutrient and pollutant loads, safeguarding the downstream environment.
Environmental context
The treated effluent from UWWTP Bellingwolde enters the local drainage network, which flows into the Westerwoldse Aa river and then the Ems River. The Ems River discharges into the Dollard estuary, a tidal area of the Wadden Sea, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site (note: this is a known fact; if uncertain, omit). The Wadden Sea is a critical habitat for migratory birds, seals, and fish. The plant's operations help protect this sensitive ecosystem by reducing organic and nutrient pollution.
Frequently asked questions
UWWTP Bellingwolde is located at 15A Wymeersterweg in Bellingwolde, a village in the province of Groningen, Netherlands.
The plant serves approximately 4,347 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which flows into the Westerwoldse Aa river and eventually the Ems River and Dollard estuary.
As a Dutch plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent.
For small agglomerations, the EU UWWTD mandates secondary treatment. Dutch plants often use activated sludge or similar biological processes to meet effluent standards.
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