ROWPI SC SOMETRA SA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Copșa Mică, Sibiu, Romania

ROWPI SC SOMETRA SA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Copșa Mică, a town in Sibiu County, Romania. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,685, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Romanian and EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and discharges into local water bodies. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity of 12,300 m³/day indicates the plant is built to handle peak flows, though current discharge volume averages 829.73 m³/day. As a Romanian facility, it operates under the national water law and is subject to permits issued by the Romanian Waters Authority (Apele Române). The treated effluent is discharged into the Târnava Mare River, a tributary of the Mureș River, which flows into the Tisza River and ultimately the Danube River and Black Sea. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Târnava Mare watershed from untreated sewage pollution.

The plant discharges into the Târnava Mare River, which flows into the Mureș River, a major tributary of the Tisza River. The Tisza joins the Danube, which empties into the Black Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as barbel and chub, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.