Overview
WASSEN wastewater treatment plant serves the Swiss village of Wassen in Uri canton. It provides secondary treatment for a small population of 597, discharging treated water into the local watershed.
WASSEN is a wastewater treatment plant located in the village of Wassen, in the canton of Uri, Switzerland. It serves a small population of 597 residents, reflecting the rural and alpine character of the region. The plant is situated in the Reuss River valley, a key corridor through the Swiss Alps. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required under Swiss water protection legislation. Swiss regulations, aligned with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, mandate secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 1417 cubic meters per day and currently discharges a volume of 270.99 cubic meters per day, indicating ample reserve capacity. Treated effluent from the plant flows into the Reuss River, which drains northward through Lake Lucerne and eventually into the Rhine River. The Rhine then flows to the North Sea. The plant plays a vital role in protecting the Reuss River and downstream Lake Lucerne from nutrient pollution, supporting aquatic life and water quality in this ecologically sensitive alpine region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Reuss River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Reuss flows through the Swiss Alps and Lake Lucerne before joining the Rhine, which ultimately reaches the North Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as brown trout and grayling. The plant's secondary treatment helps control nutrient loads, preventing eutrophication in Lake Lucerne and maintaining water quality for downstream communities.
Frequently asked questions
WASSEN is located at Gotthardstrasse 9, in the village of Wassen, canton of Uri, Switzerland. It serves the local community in the Reuss River valley.
The plant serves a population of 597 people, making it a small-scale facility typical of alpine villages in Switzerland.
The plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into the Reuss River, which flows into Lake Lucerne and eventually the Rhine River.
The plant operates under Swiss water protection laws, which are aligned with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. For small agglomerations like Wassen, secondary treatment is the required standard.
In Switzerland, plants serving small populations typically use secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and nutrients. This is sufficient to protect sensitive alpine water bodies.
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