Overview
Krościenko nad Dunajcem wastewater treatment plant serves about 3,900 residents in Małopolskie, Poland, with secondary treatment. It discharges treated effluent into the Dunajec River, a tributary of the Vistula, ultimately reaching the Baltic Sea.
The Krościenko nad Dunajcem wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Krościenko nad Dunajcem, in the Małopolskie province of southern Poland. It serves a population of approximately 3,862 people, making it a small-scale municipal facility in the Pieniny mountain region, a popular tourist area near the Dunajec River Gorge. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. Its designed capacity is 7,000 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is about 550.66 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity for future growth or seasonal tourist influx. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Dunajec River, which flows through the Pieniny National Park and eventually joins the Vistula River near Warsaw. The Vistula then drains into the Baltic Sea via the Gulf of Gdańsk. The plant plays a key role in protecting the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Dunajec River, which supports diverse fish populations and is an important corridor for migratory birds.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Dunajec River, a tributary of the Vistula River, which flows northward through Poland to the Baltic Sea. The Dunajec River runs through the ecologically sensitive Pieniny region, known for its limestone gorges and diverse aquatic life. The treatment plant helps maintain water quality in this river, which is used for recreation and supports downstream ecosystems including the Vistula estuary and Baltic coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Krościenko nad Dunajcem, a town in the Małopolskie province of southern Poland, near the Dunajec River in the Pieniny mountain region.
The plant serves approximately 3,862 residents, with a designed capacity of 7,000 m³/day, allowing for seasonal tourist demand.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Dunajec River, which flows into the Vistula River and ultimately reaches the Baltic Sea, protecting these water bodies from untreated pollution.
As a small agglomeration (under 10,000 PE), the plant provides secondary treatment as required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), ensuring adequate pollutant removal before discharge.
In Poland, plants serving populations between 2,000 and 10,000 typically provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EU standards.
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