COV Spisska Nova Ves - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia

COV Spisska Nova Ves is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Spišská Nová Ves, within the Košický kraj region of eastern Slovakia. The plant serves a population of approximately 24,853 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. As a plant serving over 10,000 population equivalent, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which is part of the Hornád River basin. The Hornád River flows southward through eastern Slovakia, eventually joining the Slaná River and draining into the Tisza River, a major tributary of the Danube. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality.

The plant's treated effluent enters the Hornád River basin, which flows through the Spiš region and eventually reaches the Tisza and Danube rivers. The downstream environment includes ecologically sensitive areas that support diverse aquatic species and migratory fish. Maintaining high treatment standards is crucial to prevent nutrient pollution and protect the ecological balance of these waterways.