Zegiestow Wastewater Treatment Plant, Muszyna, Poland

The Zegiestow wastewater treatment plant is located in the Muszyna municipality within the Małopolskie Voivodeship of southern Poland. This facility serves a small population of 467 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small-town setting. The plant is situated in the Poprad River valley, part of the Carpathian mountain region, which influences local hydrology and treatment requirements. As a secondary treatment plant, Zegiestow meets the minimum standards set by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations under 2,000 population equivalent. The directive requires secondary treatment for all discharges to freshwater, which this plant provides. With a designed capacity of 1881 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 66.59 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent from Zegiestow is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately flows into the Poprad River, a tributary of the Dunajec River. The Dunajec joins the Vistula River, which drains into the Baltic Sea via the Gulf of Gdańsk. The Carpathian region supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, and the plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.

The Zegiestow plant discharges into the Poprad River catchment, which flows through the Carpathian Mountains into the Dunajec River, a major tributary of the Vistula. The Vistula empties into the Baltic Sea via the Gulf of Gdańsk. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including salmonid fish species, and the plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollution to protect downstream habitats.