Wilhelm von der Emde (14 May 1922 – 19 February 2020) was a German-Austrian civil engineer. He played a major role in the development of the activated sludge process for biological wastewater treatment in sewage treatment plants and the establishment of an infrastructure for treatment and disposal of municipal and industrial wastewater. Further fields of his broad spectrum of activities included the training of operating personnel of wastewater treatment plants. He initiated the establishment of corresponding training networks and participated in their organisation in a leading position. His work provided the central basis for concepts of water protection and for maintaining and improving water quality.