Gostycyn Wastewater Treatment Plant, Gostycyn | Poland

The Gostycyn wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Gostycyn, within the Tuchola County of województwo kujawsko-pomorskie, Poland. It serves a population of approximately 3,627, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for freshwater discharges from settlements of this size. With a designed capacity of 7,260 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 517.15 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. As a Polish facility, it is subject to national water law transposing the EU directive, with permits issued by the Regional Water Management Board (RZGW) in Gdańsk or the relevant provincial authority. The treated wastewater is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Brda River, a tributary of the Vistula River, which ultimately flows into the Baltic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's surface waters and groundwater from pollution, supporting the ecological health of the Brda and Vistula basins.

The Gostycyn plant discharges into local streams that feed the Brda River, a major tributary of the Vistula. The Vistula drains into the Baltic Sea, a semi-enclosed sea sensitive to nutrient pollution. The surrounding Tuchola Forest region is ecologically important, supporting diverse aquatic life and acting as a migratory corridor for fish. Secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.