Urban waste water treatment per province and river basin district

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Regions Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Ashes (1 000 kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Nitrogen compounds as N (1 000 kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Phosphorus compounds as P (1 000 kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Copper (kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Chromium (kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Zinc (kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Lead (kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Cadmium (kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Nickel (kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Mercury (kg) Sewage sludge Nutrients and heavy metals Arsenic (kg)
Nederland 98,816 17,267 10,799 107,508 12,060 346,209 26,073 316 8,099 134 3,742
Noord-Nederland (LD) 9,995 1,772 1,154 10,621 1,417 34,959 2,953 27 807 13 346
Oost-Nederland (LD) 20,483 3,748 2,138 20,535 2,507 73,681 4,957 63 1,558 26 628
West-Nederland (LD) 37,050 7,618 4,553 46,323 3,943 135,580 10,998 116 3,079 59 2,061
Zuid-Nederland (LD) 31,287 4,130 2,953 30,030 4,193 101,989 7,164 110 2,655 36 707
Groningen (PV) 3,154 394 395 4,241 468 13,050 1,087 11 261 5 122
Fryslân (PV) 4,668 898 499 3,991 725 14,164 1,262 11 389 3 185
Drenthe (PV) 2,174 480 260 2,389 224 7,745 604 6 158 5 38
Overijssel (PV) 6,731 1,025 713 8,122 907 24,277 1,840 20 551 10 154
Flevoland (PV) 1,944 607 281 1,816 158 4,545 165 4 126 2 194
Gelderland (PV) 11,809 2,116 1,144 10,597 1,442 44,860 2,953 38 880 14 280
Utrecht (PV) 5,525 1,333 710 5,825 535 21,696 1,571 16 362 7 141
Noord-Holland (PV) 12,045 2,149 1,471 17,267 1,280 48,855 3,672 47 929 21 565
Zuid-Holland (PV) 17,323 3,759 2,179 20,320 1,891 56,846 5,114 47 1,637 27 1,162
Zeeland (PV) 2,157 377 193 2,910 237 8,183 641 6 151 3 194
Noord-Brabant (PV) 20,995 2,855 2,110 23,832 2,963 72,558 5,242 79 1,630 27 542
Limburg (PV) 10,292 1,274 843 6,198 1,231 29,430 1,921 31 1,025 9 166
The river Eems 3,154 394 395 4,241 468 13,050 1,087 11 261 5 122
The river Rijn (North Rijn) 4,668 898 499 3,991 725 14,164 1,262 11 389 3 185
The river Rijn (East Rijn) 20,396 3,922 2,255 20,610 2,523 75,263 5,171 62 1,557 28 614
The river Rijn (Central Rijn)
The river Rijn (West Rijn) 36,846 7,464 4,469 45,332 3,888 132,496 10,662 116 3,068 58 1,890
The river Maas 28,760 3,905 2,756 27,466 3,581 95,339 6,667 102 2,468 34 623
The river Schelde 4,992 684 424 5,868 876 15,897 1,223 15 357 6 307
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


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 29 May 2026:
The figures of 2024 has been added.

When will new figures be published?
New figures on 2025 will be published by March 2027.

Description topics

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.
Nutrients and heavy metals
The total weight of nutrients and heavy metals removed with the sludge. Most heavy metals adsorb strongly to the sludge particles.
Ashes
The residue of non-inflammable, inorganic matter after incineration.
Nitrogen compounds as N
The total amount of nitrogen in organic compounds (e.g. proteins) and inorganic compounds (e.g. nitrate and ammonium).
Phosphorus compounds as P
The total amount of phosphorus in sewage sludge is analysed as P205 (diphosphorus pentoxide) converted to P total.
Copper
Chromium
Zinc
Lead
Cadmium
Nickel
Mercury
Arsenic