Piaski Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wierzchowiny, Poland

Piaski is a wastewater treatment plant located in Wierzchowiny, within the gmina Ulan-Majorat in województwo lubelskie, Poland. It serves a small agglomeration of 1,830 people, reflecting its role in rural wastewater management in the Lublin region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 1,575 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 260.93 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Wieprz River, a tributary of the Vistula River, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watershed from nutrient pollution and supporting the ecological health of downstream aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into the Wieprz River basin, part of the Vistula River catchment that ultimately reaches the Baltic Sea. The region's agricultural landscape means nutrient removal is critical to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters. The Baltic Sea is sensitive to nitrogen and phosphorus loads, making secondary treatment an important baseline for reducing environmental impact.