COV Spisska Stara Ves - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Spišská Stará Ves, Slovakia

COV Spisska Stara Ves is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Spišská Stará Ves, a town in the Prešovský kraj region of northeastern Slovakia. The plant serves a population of 1,381 and is designed to handle a capacity of 2,380 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 282.63 cubic meters per day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. As a small agglomeration (under 2,000 population equivalent), the directive mandates appropriate treatment to protect receiving waters, though secondary treatment is typical for inland plants. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse within the Dunajec River basin, which flows into the Vistula River and ultimately reaches the Baltic Sea. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in the region, supporting the ecological health of downstream aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Dunajec River, which flows through the Pieniny Mountains and into the Vistula River, eventually reaching the Baltic Sea. The Dunajec River is known for its scenic gorges and supports diverse aquatic life, including salmonid fish. The surrounding area is part of the Western Carpathians, with sensitive ecosystems that benefit from effective wastewater treatment to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain biodiversity.