AISEREY Wastewater Treatment Plant, Aiserey, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

The AISEREY wastewater treatment plant is located in Aiserey, a commune in the Côte-d'Or department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. The facility serves a population of approximately 6,920 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under French and EU regulations. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum standard. French plants typically operate under permits issued by the local water agency (Agence de l'Eau) and are subject to national regulations transposing the directive. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with effluent standards for organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent from AISEREY is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Saône River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Rhône flows southward to the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Saône-Rhône watershed from nutrient pollution and maintaining water quality for downstream communities and ecosystems.

The AISEREY plant discharges into the local drainage network that feeds the Saône River, which joins the Rhône near Lyon. The Rhône is one of Europe's major rivers, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as barbel and chub, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in downstream water bodies.