The wastewater treatment plants of the Ruhrverband
In the Ruhre catchment area, 2 million people from private households and commercial businesses produce wastewater every day.
This wastewater contains a wide variety of contaminants, ranging from food waste, paper and faeces to industrial residues. Wastewater contaminated in this way must not be allowed to enter the rivers. It is therefore collected by the municipalities in sewer networks and channelled to the Ruhrverband's 64 wastewater treatment plants, as can be seen in the schematic diagram of urban drainage.
Once it arrives at the wastewater treatment plant, the wastewater undergoes intensive mechanical and biological treatment. This involves the mechanical separation of solid wastewater constituents as well as the removal of dissolved substances. The purified water is then discharged back into the waterways. The substances removed from the wastewater are sent for sludge treatment. The design and process selection of the purification stages at a wastewater treatment plant are based on the degree of wastewater pollution. In Germany, the necessary purification of wastewater is regulated by legal requirements. In individual cases, there may be higher purification requirements for reasons of water protection, so that wastewater treatment plants are additionally equipped with an advanced purification stage.
Wastewater treatment plants of the Ruhrverband: Regional and sustainable
The Ruhrverband operates regionally distributed wastewater treatment plants that reliably purify wastewater and protect bodies of water. From the source of the Ruhr to its mouth, the comprehensive infrastructure ensures sustainable water quality in the region.