Overview
BUREA AVLOPPSREN VERK is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Bureå, Sweden, serving approximately 4,000 people. It discharges treated effluent into the Baltic Sea coastal zone.
BUREA AVLOPPSREN VERK is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Bureå, a coastal locality in Skellefteå municipality, Västerbottens län, Sweden. The plant serves a population of about 3,992 and has a designed capacity of 5,700 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 626.67 cubic meters per day. As an advanced treatment plant, it provides nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment, which is typical for Swedish facilities discharging into sensitive coastal waters. Sweden implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), requiring tertiary treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent in sensitive areas; although this plant serves fewer than 10,000, its advanced treatment reflects national standards for Baltic Sea protection. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea, specifically the Bothnian Bay. This region is ecologically sensitive due to low salinity and seasonal ice cover, supporting unique brackish-water species. The plant plays a key role in reducing nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the coastal waters of the Bothnian Bay, a northern basin of the Baltic Sea. This area is characterized by brackish water, low biodiversity, and vulnerability to nutrient pollution. The Baltic Sea is one of the most eutrophied seas globally, making advanced nutrient removal at coastal plants critical for reducing algal blooms and oxygen depletion. The plant's location within 10 km of the coast means its effluent directly influences nearshore marine ecology.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Skepparvägen, Klosterholmen, Bureå, in Skellefteå municipality, Västerbottens län, Sweden.
The plant serves approximately 3,992 people in the Bureå area.
The plant discharges advanced-treated effluent into coastal waters of the Bothnian Bay, Baltic Sea, via a local outfall.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment, aligning with Swedish standards for Baltic Sea protection.
Sweden implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. While plants serving under 10,000 people typically require secondary treatment, this plant's advanced treatment reflects national efforts to reduce nutrient loads to the Baltic Sea.
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