FAELLANDENBACHWIS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fällanden, Zürich, Switzerland

FAELLANDENBACHWIS is a wastewater treatment plant located in Fällanden, in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland. It serves a population of around 50,482, placing it in the medium agglomeration category. The plant is situated in the Glatt Valley, a region with a mix of urban and suburban development. As a Swiss facility, the plant operates under the Swiss Water Protection Act (Gewässerschutzgesetz), which mandates advanced treatment to protect sensitive water bodies. Switzerland, though not an EU member, aligns its standards with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, requiring secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 people and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating it is sized to handle the local load. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which flows into the Glatt River, a tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine ultimately drains into the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Glatt River and downstream ecosystems, including the Rhine, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish.

The plant discharges into the Glatt River, which flows into the Rhine River, a major European waterway that empties into the North Sea. The Glatt River and Rhine support diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as salmon and eel. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive region, which is also used for recreation and drinking water supply downstream.