Overview
VASTERVIK ARV Lucerna is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving Västervik, Sweden, with a population equivalent of 28,984. The plant operates under Sweden's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
VASTERVIK ARV Lucerna is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Depåvägen in Västervik, Kalmar County, Sweden. It serves a population equivalent of 28,984, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Baltic Sea coast, within 50 km of the coastline, and its operations are critical for protecting the local marine environment. As a Swedish facility, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. Sweden's national regulations, enforced by county administrative boards, typically mandate advanced treatment for plants discharging into sensitive coastal areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating a moderate scale of operations. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Baltic Sea via local watercourses, contributing to the overall water quality of the Kalmar Strait. The Baltic Sea is a brackish, semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. Effective wastewater treatment at VASTERVIK ARV Lucerna helps reduce eutrophication risks and supports the ecological health of coastal habitats and fisheries.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Baltic Sea, a brackish inland sea connected to the North Sea via the Danish straits. The Baltic Sea is highly sensitive to nutrient loading, which can cause algal blooms and oxygen depletion. The Kalmar Strait, near Västervik, supports diverse aquatic life, including fish spawning grounds and migratory bird habitats. Effective treatment at this plant helps mitigate eutrophication and protects the coastal ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
VASTERVIK ARV Lucerna is located on Depåvägen in Västervik, Kalmar County, Sweden. It serves the municipality of Västervik and surrounding areas.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 28,984, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Baltic Sea, specifically the Kalmar Strait. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its discharge affects the sensitive marine environment.
As a Swedish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent. Sweden's national regulations may impose additional requirements for nutrient removal in sensitive coastal areas.
For a medium-sized agglomeration in Sweden, secondary treatment is mandatory under the EU directive. Many plants in coastal areas also implement tertiary treatment for nutrient removal to protect the Baltic Sea from eutrophication.
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