ROWP Ocna Sugatag Wastewater Treatment Plant - Ocna Șugatag, Maramureș, Romania

ROWP Ocna Sugatag is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ocna Șugatag, a commune in Maramureș County, Romania. The plant serves a small population of 390 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It is situated in the historic region of Maramureș, known for its wooden churches and proximity to the Carpathian Mountains. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent under 10,000. The designed capacity of 3,500 m³/day indicates the plant can handle peak flows, while the actual discharge volume of 552.96 m³/day suggests current loads are well within capacity. The plant operates under Romania's national water management framework, which transposes EU directives. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local streams that eventually flow into the Tisa River, a major tributary of the Danube. The Tisa River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important corridor for migratory fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect these downstream waters from organic pollution, contributing to the ecological health of the region.

The plant discharges into local watercourses that drain into the Tisa River, which flows through Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia before joining the Danube. The Tisa basin is ecologically sensitive, supporting species such as the Danube sturgeon and various freshwater mussels. Secondary treatment reduces biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream lakes and wetlands.