COV SLZ Hnusta Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hnúšťa, Slovakia

COV SLZ Hnusta is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Hnúšťa, in the Banskobystrický kraj region of central Slovakia. The plant serves a population of 1,670 and has a designed capacity of 3,600 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 341.77 cubic meters per day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for populations between 2,000 and 10,000, and Slovakia has transposed this into national law. The plant's capacity utilization is low, indicating it has room for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Slaná River and then the Tisza River basin, part of the Danube River system. This water body supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream ecosystems from untreated wastewater.

The plant discharges into the Slaná River catchment, which flows into the Tisza River and eventually the Danube River, reaching the Black Sea. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is used for recreation and fishing. Protecting water quality in this region is essential for maintaining ecological balance and downstream water resources.