Czaplinek Wastewater Treatment Plant - Advanced Treatment in Northwestern Poland

The Czaplinek wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Czaplinek, in województwo zachodniopomorskie, northwestern Poland. It serves a population of 6,144, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under Polish and EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, away from the Baltic coast. The facility provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 12,600 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 876.04 thousand m³ per year, the plant operates well within its capacity. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal, reducing the environmental impact on receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a river or lake within the Drawskie Lakeland region. This area is part of the Oder River basin, which ultimately drains into the Baltic Sea. The advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the region, including lakes and rivers that support diverse wildlife and recreational activities.

The plant discharges into a water body within the Drawskie Lakeland, a region of post-glacial lakes and rivers. This area drains into the Drawa River, a tributary of the Noteć River, which flows into the Warta River and eventually the Oder River, reaching the Baltic Sea. The advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, protecting downstream lakes from eutrophication and supporting aquatic biodiversity, including fish and bird species.