Kobylec Wastewater Treatment Plant, Brzezowa, Lesser Poland

Kobylec is a wastewater treatment plant located in Brzezowa, a village in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (województwo małopolskie). The plant serves a population of 3,444, placing it in the small agglomeration category under Polish and EU regulations. It operates as part of the municipal infrastructure for the gmina Łapanów area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 9,250 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 491.06 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The plant is not located near the coast, so its discharge affects inland waters. The treated effluent likely flows into local streams that are part of the Vistula River basin, ultimately reaching the Baltic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watershed from untreated sewage, supporting water quality in the region's rivers and groundwater.

Kobylec discharges into the local catchment of the Raba River, a tributary of the Vistula River, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The area is part of the Carpathian foothills, with sensitive aquatic ecosystems that benefit from reduced nutrient loads. The plant's secondary treatment helps prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies, supporting biodiversity in the Vistula delta and Baltic Sea.