Bassins d'Épuration des Érables Wastewater Treatment Plant, Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix, Québec

Bassins d'Épuration des Érables is a wastewater treatment plant located in Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix, within the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Québec, Canada. The plant serves a population of 2,450 and is part of the municipal infrastructure managed by local authorities. As a small-scale facility in Canada, the plant operates under provincial and federal regulations, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and Québec's Environment Quality Act. These frameworks require treatment standards appropriate for the receiving environment, with smaller communities often utilizing lagoon or mechanical systems to meet effluent quality objectives. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into Lac Saint-Jean and ultimately the Saguenay River, flowing into the St. Lawrence Estuary. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for recreational fishing and tourism, making effective wastewater treatment essential for protecting water quality and ecosystem health.

The plant discharges into the watershed of Lac Saint-Jean, a large freshwater lake that feeds the Saguenay River, which flows into the St. Lawrence Estuary. This downstream environment supports a variety of fish species and migratory birds, and the area is ecologically sensitive due to its role in regional biodiversity. Protecting water quality in this basin is critical for maintaining the health of both freshwater and estuarine ecosystems.