Overview
UWWTP Hoogezand serves the Sappemeer area in Groningen, Netherlands, with a population equivalent of 39,248. The plant has a designed capacity of 1.00 and operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
UWWTP Hoogezand is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Sappemeer, within the province of Groningen, Netherlands. It serves a population equivalent of 39,248, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. The plant is part of the national wastewater infrastructure managed by regional water authorities. As a Dutch treatment plant, UWWTP Hoogezand operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale. The Netherlands has extensive wastewater treatment standards, often requiring advanced treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity of 1.00 suggests it is sized to handle the local wastewater load. The treated effluent from UWWTP Hoogezand is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Wadden Sea via the Ems-Dollard estuary. This region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the Groningen area.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local water network that flows into the Ems-Dollard estuary, part of the Wadden Sea ecosystem. This area is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a critical habitat for migratory birds. The Wadden Sea is a shallow tidal basin with high biological productivity, making nutrient management essential to prevent eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
UWWTP Hoogezand is located at Rijksweg Oost 101 in Sappemeer, within the municipality of Midden-Groningen, province of Groningen, Netherlands.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 39,248, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which flows into the Ems-Dollard estuary and ultimately the Wadden Sea.
As a Dutch plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 15,000 PE. The Netherlands enforces strict nutrient removal standards to protect sensitive water bodies.
For a medium-sized agglomeration in the Netherlands, secondary treatment with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) is standard, often meeting tertiary treatment requirements to protect the Wadden Sea ecosystem.
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