Samedan Sax Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bever, Graubünden, Switzerland

Samedan Sax is a wastewater treatment plant located in Bever, within the Maloja district of Graubünden, Switzerland. Serving a population equivalent of 19,891, it is a medium-sized facility that plays a key role in managing municipal wastewater in the Upper Engadin region. The plant is situated in an Alpine environment, where water quality protection is critical for both local communities and downstream ecosystems. As a Swiss treatment plant, Samedan Sax operates under the Swiss Water Protection Act (Gewässerschutzgesetz), which mandates advanced treatment standards for all agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalents. For facilities of this scale, secondary treatment with nutrient removal is typically required, especially in sensitive Alpine watersheds. The plant's design and operation align with these national regulations, ensuring effective pollutant removal before discharge. The treated effluent from Samedan Sax is discharged into the Inn River basin, which flows through the Engadin valley and eventually into the Danube River system. This watercourse supports diverse aquatic life and is an important corridor for migratory fish. The plant's performance directly influences the ecological health of the Inn and downstream waters, making its treatment reliability essential for regional water quality.

Samedan Sax discharges into the Inn River, a major Alpine tributary of the Danube. The Inn flows through the Engadin valley, a region known for its pristine lakes and biodiversity. Downstream, the river supports fish species such as brown trout and grayling, and its waters are used for irrigation and recreation. The plant's location in a sensitive Alpine watershed means that effective nutrient removal is critical to prevent eutrophication in receiving waters.