Lumnezia Vella Wastewater Treatment Plant - Advanced Treatment in Graubünden, Switzerland

Lumnezia Vella is a wastewater treatment plant located in the village of Vella, within the municipality of Lumnezia in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. The plant serves a small population of 838 residents and operates with advanced treatment technology, ensuring high-quality effluent. Its designed capacity of 1875.00 m³/day indicates significant headroom for future growth or seasonal variations. As an advanced treatment facility, Lumnezia Vella likely employs processes such as biological nutrient removal or tertiary filtration to meet stringent Swiss water quality standards. Switzerland's Water Protection Act requires high treatment levels, especially in sensitive alpine catchments. The plant's actual discharge volume of 380.39 m³/day reflects its current operational load, well below capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that feed into the Glenner river, a tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine ultimately flows into the North Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the pristine alpine environment of the Surselva region, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality in the Rhine basin.

The plant discharges into the Glenner river, which flows into the Vorderrhein and then the Rhine, eventually reaching the North Sea. The surrounding Surselva region is characterized by sensitive alpine ecosystems, including cold-water fish habitats and diverse macroinvertebrate communities. Advanced treatment helps maintain low nutrient levels, preventing eutrophication in downstream lakes and rivers.