ARV Boxholm Wastewater Treatment Plant, Boxholm, Sweden

ARV Boxholm is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Boxholm, Östergötlands län, Sweden. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,333 people and has a designed capacity of 8,000 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 680.20 m³/day. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast but within 50 km of the Baltic Sea. As an advanced treatment facility, ARV Boxholm likely employs biological nutrient removal or other tertiary processes to meet stringent Swedish and EU standards. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), Sweden requires advanced treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 PE in sensitive areas, but even smaller plants like Boxholm often adopt advanced methods to protect local water bodies. The plant discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Baltic Sea via the Motala Ström or nearby river systems. This contributes to the ecological health of the region, supporting aquatic life and reducing nutrient loads that could cause eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.

ARV Boxholm discharges into a local stream that flows into the Motala Ström river system, which eventually reaches the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a brackish water body highly sensitive to nutrient pollution, where excess nitrogen and phosphorus can lead to algal blooms and oxygen depletion. The plant's advanced treatment helps mitigate these impacts by reducing nutrient loads, supporting the ecological balance of the downstream watershed.