Overview
Uppsala Avloppsreningsverk is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving Uppsala, Sweden. It operates under EU directives for large agglomerations, treating wastewater from over 200,000 people.
Uppsala Avloppsreningsverk is the primary wastewater treatment facility for Uppsala, Sweden's fourth-largest city. Located on the Fyris River near Lake Mälaren, the plant serves a population of approximately 218,895, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a major urban treatment plant in Sweden, Uppsala Avloppsreningsverk is expected to meet stringent effluent standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations over 100,000 population equivalent, the directive mandates secondary treatment or more advanced processes, especially in sensitive areas like the Baltic Sea catchment. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per second or similar unit), indicating substantial infrastructure. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Fyris River, which flows into Lake Mälaren, Sweden's third-largest lake. Lake Mälaren is a critical freshwater resource and eventually drains into the Baltic Sea via Stockholm. The Baltic Sea is highly sensitive to nutrient pollution, making advanced treatment essential to prevent eutrophication and protect marine ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Fyris River, which flows into Lake Mälaren, a major freshwater lake supplying drinking water to Stockholm. Lake Mälaren drains into the Baltic Sea, a semi-enclosed sea highly vulnerable to eutrophication from nutrient inputs. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. Effective nutrient removal at the plant is critical to protect downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
Uppsala Avloppsreningsverk is located at Kungsängsbron in Kungsängen, Uppsala, Sweden. It sits on the Fyris River, which flows through the city.
The plant serves approximately 218,895 people, making it a large agglomeration under EU classification. It handles wastewater from the city of Uppsala and surrounding areas.
Treated wastewater is discharged into the Fyris River, which flows into Lake Mälaren. Lake Mälaren is a major freshwater lake that ultimately drains into the Baltic Sea.
As a Swedish plant serving over 100,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary or advanced treatment to protect sensitive waters like the Baltic Sea.
For large agglomerations in Sweden, advanced treatment with nutrient removal is standard, especially to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads to the Baltic Sea. Many plants employ biological treatment with chemical precipitation.
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