Overview
INNERTKIRCHEN wastewater treatment plant in Innertkirchen, Bern, Switzerland, serves 1,600 people with advanced treatment. It has a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and discharges 726.28 m³/day.
The INNERTKIRCHEN wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Innertkirchen in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. It serves a population of approximately 1,600 residents in this Alpine community. The plant is situated in the Hasli valley, near the Aare river headwaters. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by Swiss regulations for smaller agglomerations. Its designed capacity is 3,000 cubic meters per day, with an average daily discharge of 726.28 cubic meters, indicating ample reserve capacity. Swiss wastewater treatment is governed by the Federal Water Protection Act (Gewässerschutzgesetz), which mandates strict effluent standards to protect sensitive Alpine waters. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local waterways that feed into the Aare river, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Aare flows through the Bernese Oberland and eventually into the Rhine at the German border. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the pristine Alpine aquatic environment, which supports diverse fish populations and is a key water source for downstream communities.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a small tributary of the Aare river, which originates in the nearby Grimsel region. The Aare flows through Lake Brienz and Lake Thun before continuing to Bern and ultimately joining the Rhine. The local watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting cold-water fish species such as brown trout and Arctic char. The advanced treatment ensures minimal nutrient and pollutant loading, preserving water quality in this Alpine ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
The INNERTKIRCHEN plant is located in Innertkirchen, in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It serves the local community in the Hasli valley of the Bernese Oberland.
The plant serves approximately 1,600 residents in the municipality of Innertkirchen and surrounding areas.
The plant uses advanced treatment processes, which include biological and chemical steps to remove nutrients and pollutants beyond secondary treatment standards.
Treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Aare river, which eventually reaches the Rhine.
The plant operates under the Swiss Federal Water Protection Act, which sets strict effluent quality standards for all wastewater treatment plants to protect sensitive Alpine waters.
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