COV Ocova Wastewater Treatment Plant, Očová, Slovakia

COV Ocova is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Očová, a village in the Zvolen District of Banskobystrický kraj, central Slovakia. The plant serves a small population of 368 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. 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 (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000. Although the plant serves fewer than 2,000 people, it still meets the secondary treatment standard. The designed capacity is 400 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 75.31 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Hron River basin, which flows southward to join the Danube River near Štúrovo. The Danube then continues to the Black Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local aquatic environment from untreated sewage, particularly in the sensitive Carpathian region.

The plant discharges into a small stream that is part of the Hron River catchment. The Hron River flows through central Slovakia and joins the Danube, which empties into the Black Sea. The surrounding area is part of the Western Carpathians, with forested hills and agricultural land. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and protects downstream ecosystems.