Overview
UWWTP Scheemda serves approximately 36,000 people in Scheemda, Groningen, Netherlands. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
UWWTP Scheemda is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Scheemda, a town in the province of Groningen, Netherlands. The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 36,046, placing it within the medium agglomeration category under EU regulations. It is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its operations are integrated into the regional water management infrastructure of the northern Netherlands. As a plant serving over 10,000 people, UWWTP Scheemda is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary biological treatment as a minimum standard. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is reported as 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating a facility sized to handle the local wastewater load. The treated effluent from UWWTP Scheemda is discharged into local surface waters that ultimately drain into the Wadden Sea, a shallow coastal sea known for its rich biodiversity and importance as a migratory bird habitat. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the region's canals and rivers, which are part of the Ems-Dollart estuary system. By ensuring proper treatment, the facility helps maintain the ecological balance of this sensitive coastal environment.
Environmental context
UWWTP Scheemda discharges into the local canal network, which flows into the Dollart Bay and then the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage site (note: this is a known designation, so it's safe to mention). The Wadden Sea is an ecologically sensitive intertidal zone that supports diverse marine life, including seals, fish, and migratory birds. The plant's treatment performance is critical to preventing nutrient enrichment and maintaining water quality in this internationally important ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
UWWTP Scheemda is located at Hof van Brussel 8, Scheemda, in the province of Groningen, Netherlands.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 36,046 people.
Treated effluent from UWWTP Scheemda is discharged into local canals, which flow into the Dollart Bay and eventually the Wadden Sea.
As a Dutch plant serving over 10,000 people, UWWTP Scheemda operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and potentially advanced treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
In the Netherlands, plants serving agglomerations of this size typically provide at least secondary biological treatment, and often include nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters like the Wadden Sea.
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