UWWTP NOORDWIJKERHOUT - Closed Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Noordwijk, Netherlands

UWWTP NOORDWIJKERHOUT is a former wastewater treatment plant located in Noordwijk, within the province of Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. The plant was designed with an advanced treatment level and a capacity of 18,000 m³/day, serving the local agglomeration before its closure. As a plant in the Netherlands, it operated under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires advanced treatment for sensitive areas. The advanced treatment level indicates that the plant was equipped to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, common in Dutch water management due to the country's dense population and intensive agriculture. The region drains into the North Sea via a network of canals and rivers. The Netherlands' low-lying geography and extensive water management infrastructure mean that treated effluent from such plants historically contributed to maintaining water quality in coastal and inland waters, supporting aquatic ecosystems and recreational uses.

The plant is located in the coastal province of Zuid-Holland, within 50 km of the North Sea. The region's water system is heavily managed, with treated effluent typically discharged into canals or rivers that eventually flow into the North Sea. This coastal environment supports diverse marine life and is an important area for fisheries and tourism. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading, which is critical to prevent eutrophication in the sensitive coastal zone.