Miejska Oczyszczalnia Sciekow w Nowym Saczu - Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rdziostow, Poland

Miejska Oczyszczalnia Sciekow w Nowym Saczu is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Rdziostow, within the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (wojewodztwo malopolskie). It serves the city of Nowy Sacz and surrounding communities, with a population equivalent of approximately 145,000, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary biological treatment for agglomerations of this size. As a facility in a sensitive area, it may also need to meet tertiary treatment standards for nutrient removal, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, to protect downstream water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into the Dunajec River, a tributary of the Vistula River, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The plant plays a critical role in protecting the water quality of the Dunajec and Vistula basins, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream communities that rely on these waters for drinking, recreation, and agriculture.

The plant discharges into the Dunajec River, a major tributary of the Vistula River, which ultimately drains into the Baltic Sea. The Dunajec River supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as brown trout and grayling, and is an important migratory corridor. The Vistula basin is ecologically sensitive, with numerous protected areas and wetlands that depend on good water quality. Effective treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading and pollution, safeguarding downstream ecosystems and the Baltic Sea marine environment.