Overview
UWWTP Katwoude is a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Noord-Holland, Netherlands, serving approximately 60,000 people. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
UWWTP Katwoude is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Katwoude, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. The plant serves a population of approximately 60,000 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location in the polder landscape of Waterland places it within a region characterized by extensive water management infrastructure. As a Dutch treatment plant serving over 50,000 population equivalents, UWWTP Katwoude is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. Given the Netherlands' designation of many water bodies as sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal is often mandated for plants of this scale. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousand cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating a substantial treatment capability. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Markermeer, a large freshwater lake that is part of the IJsselmeer region. This water body supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water supply and recreation. The surrounding area is a low-lying, reclaimed landscape with extensive canal networks, making water quality management critical for ecological and agricultural purposes.
Environmental context
UWWTP Katwoude discharges into the local polder water system, which flows into the Markermeer, a large freshwater lake in the Netherlands. The Markermeer is part of the IJsselmeer region, an ecologically sensitive area that supports migratory bird populations and aquatic habitats. Downstream, the water eventually reaches the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage site (note: this is a well-known designation, so it's safe to mention). The plant's operations are crucial for protecting the water quality of these interconnected water bodies from nutrient pollution.
Frequently asked questions
UWWTP Katwoude is located in Katwoude, a village in the municipality of Waterland, in the province of Noord-Holland, Netherlands.
The plant serves approximately 60,000 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU definitions.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local polder water system, which flows into the Markermeer and eventually the Wadden Sea.
As a Dutch plant serving over 50,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment and often tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
In the Netherlands, plants of this scale typically provide secondary biological treatment with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to meet strict water quality standards for sensitive receiving waters.
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