ROWP SC IGOSERV SA Berca - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rătești, Romania

ROWP SC IGOSERV SA Berca is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Rătești, a locality within the commune of Berca, Buzău County, Romania. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,019 people, placing it in the small agglomeration category under Romanian and EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 4,969 m³/day, with a reported discharge volume of 238.38 m³/day, indicating that the plant operates well below its capacity. As a Romanian facility, it is subject to national transposition of EU directives and is likely overseen by the Romanian National Administration "Apele Române" for water quality compliance. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters, which ultimately drain into the Buzău River basin and then into the Siret River, a major tributary of the Danube. The Danube flows into the Black Sea, making this plant part of a large transboundary river system. The surrounding area is predominantly rural and agricultural, so the plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems from nutrient pollution.

The plant discharges into the Buzău River basin, which flows into the Siret River and then the Danube, ultimately reaching the Black Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic load and nutrients, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream water bodies, including the Danube Delta, an ecologically sensitive area.