Piensk Wastewater Treatment Plant, Deschka, Poland - Secondary Treatment Facility

The Piensk wastewater treatment plant is located in Deschka, within the Sachsen region near the German border. It serves a population of approximately 2,291 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated in the Neißeaue area, close to the Lusatian Neisse River. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for inland agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 9,700 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 326.66 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the Lusatian Neisse River, a tributary of the Oder River, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Neisse and Oder basins, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream communities.

The plant discharges into the Lusatian Neisse River, which flows northward to join the Oder River near the German-Polish border. The Oder then empties into the Baltic Sea via the Szczecin Lagoon. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as pike and perch, and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The region's mixed agricultural and forested landscape influences nutrient runoff, making effective wastewater treatment critical for preventing eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.