Tarczek Wastewater Treatment Plant, Świętomarz, Poland

Tarczek is a wastewater treatment plant located in Stara Wieś, near Świętomarz, in the gmina Pawłów, powiat starachowicki, województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland. It serves a population of 2,144, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Polish and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard requirement under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for inland agglomerations of this size. As a secondary treatment facility, Tarczek removes organic matter and suspended solids through biological processes. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,730 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average volume of 305.70 cubic meters per day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. This suggests the plant is adequately sized for current demand with room for future growth. The treated effluent from Tarczek is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Vistula River basin, which flows northward to the Baltic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's surface water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems. Its operation aligns with Poland's commitments under the EU Water Framework Directive to achieve good ecological status in all water bodies.

The Tarczek plant discharges into small streams that are part of the Vistula River basin, the largest river system in Poland. The Vistula flows into the Baltic Sea, a semi-enclosed sea sensitive to nutrient pollution. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic load and nutrients, protecting downstream aquatic habitats and supporting biodiversity in the region's rivers and coastal waters.