Limanowa Mecina Wastewater Treatment Plant, Niedzica, Slovakia

Limanowa Mecina is a wastewater treatment plant located in Niedzica, a village in the Lesser Poland region near the Slovak border. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,266 people, reflecting its role in a small agglomeration. It is situated in a mountainous area within the Dunajec River basin, which flows into the Vistula River and ultimately the Baltic Sea. 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 of this size. The designed capacity is 2,000 m³/day, and the actual discharge volume is 0.32 million m³ per year, indicating the plant operates within its capacity. As a facility in an EU member state, it is subject to regular monitoring and compliance with effluent standards. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Dunajec River. This river is a tributary of the Vistula, one of Poland's major rivers, and eventually reaches the Baltic Sea. The plant's operation helps protect the water quality of the Dunajec, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and tourism in the Pieniny region.

The plant discharges into the Dunajec River, a tributary of the Vistula River, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The Dunajec is a key watercourse in the Pieniny Mountains, supporting a rich ecosystem including fish species such as brown trout and grayling. The area is ecologically sensitive due to its mountainous terrain and tourism, making effective wastewater treatment crucial for preserving water quality and biodiversity.