Niederried B_K Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kallnach, Bern, Switzerland

Niederried B_K is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the village of Niederried bei Kallnach, within the Verwaltungskreis Seeland in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. The plant serves a small population of 290 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It is situated near the Aare river basin, which is part of the larger Rhine watershed. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required under Swiss water protection law (Gewässerschutzgesetz). For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is typically sufficient to meet the stringent Swiss effluent standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 310 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 131.64 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that eventually flow into the Aare river, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Aare river supports diverse aquatic life and is an important waterway for the region. The plant's operation helps protect the water quality of the Aare and downstream ecosystems in the Rhine basin.

The plant discharges into small watercourses that drain into the Aare river, which flows through the Swiss Plateau and eventually joins the Rhine near the German border. The Aare river supports a variety of fish species, including brown trout and grayling, and its riparian zones provide habitat for birds and amphibians. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting the ecological health of the Aare and downstream Rhine ecosystem.