Overview
UWWTP Ridderkerk serves approximately 50,000 people in Ridderkerk, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
UWWTP Ridderkerk is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Ridderkerk, a town in the province of Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. The plant serves a population of approximately 50,117 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location in the densely populated Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta region places it within a complex network of waterways and industrial activity. As a plant serving over 15,000 population equivalent (PE), UWWTP Ridderkerk is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary biological treatment as a minimum. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, which is common in the Netherlands due to the ecological importance of its coastal and inland waters. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating a facility sized for its service population. The treated effluent from UWWTP Ridderkerk is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the North Sea via the Rhine-Meuse delta. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality, including the ecologically sensitive coastal zones of the Netherlands.
Environmental context
UWWTP Ridderkerk discharges into the local water network within the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta, which flows into the North Sea. This delta is a highly productive ecosystem supporting diverse aquatic species and serving as a vital stopover for migratory birds. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive region, where nutrient pollution from wastewater can contribute to eutrophication in coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
UWWTP Ridderkerk is located in Ridderkerk, a town in the province of Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. The plant's address is 10, Wagenmakerstraat, Donkersloot, Slikkerveer, Ridderkerk.
The plant serves approximately 50,117 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification (between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent).
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system within the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta, which ultimately flows into the North Sea. The exact receiving water body is part of the region's extensive canal and river network.
As a Dutch plant serving over 15,000 PE, UWWTP Ridderkerk operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are in a sensitive area, which is common in the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, plants serving around 50,000 people typically provide secondary biological treatment, often with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive coastal waters. Many plants also incorporate advanced treatment stages to meet stringent Dutch water quality standards.
Nearby plants