Kristinehamns avloppsreningsv, Kristinehamn

Overview

Kristinehamns avloppsreningsv serves about 20,000 people in Kristinehamn, Sweden. The plant discharges into the local water system within 50 km of the coast, contributing to the protection of the Baltic Sea.

Kristinehamns avloppsreningsv is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Kristinehamn, Värmlands län, Sweden. It serves a population of approximately 20,223 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under Swedish and EU regulations. As a Swedish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's treated effluent flows into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Baltic Sea via Lake Vänern and the Göta älv river system. This discharge is significant for the ecological health of the Baltic Sea, a sensitive brackish water body that requires careful nutrient management to prevent eutrophication.

Environmental context

The plant's discharge enters the local water system near Kristinehamn, which is part of the Göta älv drainage basin. This basin flows through Lake Vänern, Sweden's largest lake, and then via the Göta älv river to the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed, brackish sea with limited water exchange, making it highly sensitive to nutrient inputs. Effective wastewater treatment is crucial to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads that can cause algal blooms and oxygen depletion in this vulnerable marine environment.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located at Fiskartornsvägen in Presterud, Kristinehamn, Kristinehamns kommun, Värmlands län, Sweden.

The plant serves approximately 20,223 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification.

The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which flows into Lake Vänern and eventually reaches the Baltic Sea via the Göta älv river.

As a Swedish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.

Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 people are generally required to provide secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.