Wierzchowo Wastewater Treatment Plant - Secondary Treatment, Poland

The Wierzchowo wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Wierzchowo, within the drawski powiat of województwo zachodniopomorskie, Poland. It serves a population of 3,344, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Polish and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into freshwater bodies. With a designed capacity of 4,097.00 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 476.80 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters, which ultimately drain into the Baltic Sea via the Drawa River and the Oder River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into local watercourses that are part of the Drawa River basin, a tributary of the Oder River, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The region features lakes and forests, and the receiving waters support diverse aquatic life. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the Baltic Sea.