Swidnica Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wierzbna | Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland

The Swidnica wastewater treatment plant is located in Wierzbna, a village in the gmina Żarów, powiat świdnicki, within the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of Poland. It serves a population of approximately 82,321, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Rzeczna street, indicating its proximity to a local watercourse. As a facility serving over 15,000 population equivalent, the plant is required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) to provide at least secondary treatment. Poland has implemented this directive through national legislation, and plants of this scale typically employ biological treatment processes such as activated sludge. Regulatory compliance ensures adequate treatment for the population served. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Bystrzyca River, which flows into the Oder River and eventually reaches the Baltic Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the local watershed from nutrient pollution, supporting aquatic life in the region's rivers and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse that is part of the Oder River basin, which drains into the Baltic Sea. The Oder basin supports diverse aquatic habitats and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The region's watershed is sensitive to nutrient loading from wastewater, making effective treatment essential for maintaining water quality in downstream lakes and coastal areas.