Mjolkeraen Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bergen, Norway

Mjolkeraen wastewater treatment plant is located in the Åsane district of Bergen, Norway, serving a population of 1,909. The plant operates with secondary treatment, a standard for smaller agglomerations in Norway under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges to coastal waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,500 m³/day and currently discharges 827.89 m³/day of treated wastewater. As a coastal facility within 10 km of the sea, it must meet stringent requirements to protect marine environments. Norway's implementation of the EU directive ensures that secondary treatment is adequate for such discharges, with additional nutrient removal if needed in sensitive areas. The treated effluent from Mjolkeraen ultimately reaches the North Sea via the coastal waters of Vestland. The North Sea is a productive marine ecosystem supporting fisheries and biodiversity. The plant's coastal location means its discharge is subject to Norwegian regulations that aim to minimize eutrophication and protect water quality in this ecologically important region.

Mjolkeraen discharges treated wastewater into the coastal waters of the North Sea near Bergen. The North Sea is a shallow, productive shelf sea that supports diverse marine life, including fish stocks and seabird colonies. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in the coastal zone, which is important for both ecological health and recreational use.