Urban waste water treatment per province and river basin district
Explanation of symbols
Table description
This table presents the most significant results of the annual survey Public treatment of urban waste water. The results are presented per province and river basin district (Rijn, Maas, Eems and Schelde) and include:
- number and capacity of the urban waste water treatment plants by type of treatment;
- the volume and concentration of organic matter, nutrients and heavy metals in the waste water running into waste water treatment plants (influent) and the volume of treated waste water (effluent). As of 2017, data on heavy metals are only inventoried for even years.
- the volume and destination of the sludge released, with nutrients and heavy metals. As of 2017, sludge data are only inventoried for even years.
Additional data on urban waste water treatment plants, process technology, energy consumption, generation of energy and sludge dewatering can be accessed on the Dutch version of StatLine.
Data available from: 1981
Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are definitive.
Changes as of 10 April 2020:
The figures of 2018 has been added.
The underlying coding of classifications (Regions) used in this table has been adjusted. It is now in line with the standard encoding defined by CBS.
The structure and data of the table have not been adjusted.
When will new figures be published?
New figures on 2019 will be published by March 2021.
Description topics
- Urban waste water treatment plants
- The number and capacity of urban waste water treatment plants in the Netherlands where nearly all domestic waste water and waste water from the private sector is treated. The plants are all operated by regional water quality control authorities.
- Numbers by type
- Number of sewage water treatment plants broken down by method of treatment.
- Total number
- The total number of urban waste water treatment plants in the Netherlands.
- Aeration tanks
- Pre-settled waste water runs through an intensively aerated basin containing active sludge (bacteria). Organic pollutants are degraded by oxygen and active sludge. The treatment process takes up only a short period of time and the sludge load is high which is typical of aeration basins.
- Carrousels
- This technology is chiefly applied in large installations. Typical of carrousels are the depth (between 2 to 4 metres) and the aeration method.
- Capacity pollution equivalents by type
- Capacity urban waste water treatment plant:
A value that indicates how much organic pollution theoretically can be treated by a waste water treatment plant.
The pollution equivalent is the official unit that quantifies the pollution in waste water; one pollution equivalent = 150 g TOD (Total Oxygen Demand).
One pollution equivalent is the daily quantity of oxygen-demanding material in the waste water of one person. The degree of pollution in the waste water produced by the private sector is also expressed in pollution equivalents.
This unit is used as of 2010, so for previous years no values are available.- Total capacity pollution equivalents
- Aeration tanks
- Pre-settled waste water runs through an intensively aerated basin containing active sludge (bacteria). Organic pollutants are degraded by oxygen and active sludge. The treatment process takes up only a short period of time and the sludge load is high which is typical of aeration basins.
- Carrousels
- This technology is chiefly applied in large installations. Typical of carrousels are the depth (between 2 to 4 metres) and the aeration method.
- Capacity inhabitant equivalents by type
- Capacity urban waste water treatment plant:
A value that indicates how much organic pollution theoretically can be treated by a waste water treatment plant.
The capacity expressed in Inhabitant Equivalents is determined on basis of: one inhabitant equivalent = 54 g BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand).
One inhabitant equivalent is the daily quantity of oxygen-demanding, organic substances in the waste water of one person.
Nowadays, the use of the unit inhabitant equivalent is decreasing. The most common unit is the pollution equivalent.- Total capacity inhabitant equivalents
- The total capacity of all urban waste water treatment plants.
- Aeration tanks
- Pre-settled waste water runs through an intensively aerated basin containing active sludge (bacteria). Organic pollutants are degraded by oxygen and active sludge. The treatment process takes up only a short period of time and the sludge load is high which is typical of aeration basins.
- Carrousels
- This technology is chiefly applied in large installations. Typical of carrousels are the depth (between 2 to 4 metres) and the aeration method.
- Influent waste water
- Data on concentrations and quantities of pollutants in the waste water running into urban waste water treatment plants (influent).
- Quantities
- Volume waste water
- The annual volume of influent waste water.
- Pollution Equivalents
- The pollution equivalent is the official unit that quantifies the pollution in waste water; one pollution equivalent = 150 g TOD (Total Oxygen Demand).
One pollution equivalent is the daily quantity of oxygen-demanding material in the waste water of one person. The degree of pollution in the waste water produced by the private sector is also expressed in pollution equivalents.
This unit is used as of 2010, so for previous years no values are available.
- Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
- Chemical oxygen demand (COD). Measure of the amount of oxygen consumed when a substance is degraded chemically.
- Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
- Biological oxygen demand (BOD). Measure of the amount of oxygen consumed when a substance is biodegraded.
- Nitrogen compounds as N (total)
- The total amount of nitrogen in organic compounds (e.g. proteins) and inorganic compounds (e.g. nitrate and ammonium)
- Phosphorus compounds as P (total)
- The total amount of phosphates and other phosphorus compounds in waste water, measured as phosphorus (P).
- Copper
- Chromium
- Zinc
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Nickel
- Mercury
- Arsenic
- Discharge of waste water (effluent)
- Data on concentrations and quantities of pollutants in treated waste water (effluent) discharged from urban waste water treatment plants.
- Quantities
- Volume waste water
- The annual volume of effluent waste water.
- Pollution Equivalents
- The pollution equivalent is the official unit that quantifies the pollution in waste water; one pollution equivalent = 150 g TOD (Total Oxygen Demand).
One pollution equivalent is the daily quantity of oxygen-demanding material in the waste water of one person. The degree of pollution in the waste water produced by the private sector is also expressed in pollution equivalents.
This unit is used as of 2010, so for previous years no values are available.
- Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
- Chemical oxygen demand (COD). Measure of the amount of oxygen consumed when a substance is degraded chemically.
- Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
- Biological oxygen demand (BOD). Measure of the amount of oxygen consumed when a substance is biodegraded.
- Nitrogen compounds as N (total)
- The total amount of nitrogen in organic compounds (e.g. proteins) and inorganic compounds (e.g. nitrate and ammonium).
- Phosphorus compounds as P (total)
- The total amount of phosphates and other phosphorus compounds in waste water, measured as phosphorus (P).
- Copper
- Chromium
- Zinc
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Nickel
- Mercury
- Arsenic
- Sewage sludge
- Residue of treated waste water consisting of suspended solids and excess active sludge (biomass). Sewage sludge is measured including water (see Total wet sludge) or as dry solids.
- Wet sewage sludge by destination
- The volume of wet sewage sludge, i.e. including water by destination (processing method).
- Total wet sludge
- Total wet sludge discharged.
- Dry solids by destination
- Discharged sewage sludge in kilogrammes of dry solids by destination (processing method). Dry solid is the residue of sewage sludge after evaporation at 105 degrees centigrade.
- Total dry solids
- Agriculture
- Application of manure or soil improver in agriculture. Due to rigid legislation impossible since 1995.
- Wet oxidation
- Wet oxidation of sludge in so-called VerTech installations: the sludge is oxidised under high pressure in a deep shaft.
- Composting
- Landfill
- Dumping of sludge on regional landfill sites or special sludge depots.
- Incineration
- Incineration of sludge in special sludge incineration plants or in household waste incinerators.
- Cement industry
- Co-incineration in cement ovens.
- Co-incineration at power plants
- Sewage sludge used as a secondary fuel at a power plant.
- Other destinations
- Mainly reuse.