Alingsas avloppsreningsverk, Alingsås

Overview

Alingsas avloppsreningsverk serves approximately 45,000 people in Alingsås, Sweden. The plant operates under Sweden's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

Alingsas avloppsreningsverk is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Alingsås, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. Serving a population of around 45,280, the facility is part of the region's essential water infrastructure, treating wastewater from households and local industries. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), Sweden classifies agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent as requiring secondary treatment, with more stringent requirements for sensitive areas. As a plant serving over 15,000 people, Alingsas avloppsreningsverk is expected to meet at least secondary treatment standards, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and nutrients. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Göta älv river system and then into the Kattegat, a part of the North Sea. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in protecting both local freshwater ecosystems and the broader marine environment from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the local watercourse that flows into the Göta älv, Sweden's largest river by volume, which empties into the Kattegat. This coastal sea area supports diverse marine life, including fish stocks and seabird populations, and is sensitive to nutrient inputs that can cause eutrophication. The plant's treatment performance is thus critical for maintaining water quality in both the river and the downstream marine environment.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located in Alingsås, Västra Götaland County, Sweden, at Lövekullevägen in the Stadsskogen district.

The plant serves approximately 45,280 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU definitions.

Treated effluent is discharged into the local watercourse, which flows into the Göta älv river and eventually reaches the Kattegat in the North Sea.

The plant operates under Sweden's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent.

Swedish plants of this scale typically provide at least secondary treatment, often with nutrient removal to protect sensitive coastal waters like the Kattegat.