AILLON LE JEUNE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Savoie, France

The Aillon-le-Jeune wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Aillon-le-Jeune, in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. This facility serves a population of 4,135 and is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for this alpine community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day and an average daily flow of 737.68 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity, indicating effective management of current wastewater loads. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the alpine streams and rivers in the region, supporting both local ecosystems and downstream communities.

The plant discharges into the local watershed of the Leysse River, a tributary of the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The alpine streams in this area support diverse aquatic life, including brown trout and other cold-water species. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting the ecological health of these sensitive mountain watercourses.