Splugen Medels iRh Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rheinwald, Switzerland

Splugen Medels iRh is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Medels im Rheinwald area of Rheinwald, in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It serves a small population of 107 people, reflecting the rural and alpine character of the region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage required under Swiss water protection regulations. With a designed capacity of 250 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 48.57 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating ample headroom for current loads. The treated effluent from the plant ultimately drains into the Hinterrhein river system, which flows into the Rhine and then to the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local alpine watershed and downstream aquatic ecosystems from untreated sewage.

The plant discharges into the local tributaries of the Hinterrhein, a headwater of the Rhine River. This alpine watershed supports sensitive aquatic life, including brown trout and other cold-water species. The Rhine flows through Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea, making the plant's treatment important for downstream water quality across borders.