Overview
AMBOISE La Varenne wastewater treatment plant serves Amboise in Centre-Val de Loire, France, with a population equivalent of 14,260. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
AMBOISE La Varenne is a wastewater treatment plant located in Amboise, within the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The facility serves a population equivalent of 14,260, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Loire River, a major watercourse in the region. As a French treatment plant serving over 10,000 people, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. For agglomerations of this size, the directive also mandates appropriate treatment to meet quality standards for receiving waters, especially in sensitive areas. The plant's design capacity and treatment processes are aligned with these regulatory requirements. The treated effluent from AMBOISE La Varenne is discharged into the Loire River, which flows westward through the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its cultural landscape and biodiversity. The river ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Saint-Nazaire. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Loire, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Loire River, one of France's longest rivers, which flows through the Loire Valley to the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire supports diverse aquatic species and is an important migratory corridor for fish such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The river's watershed includes agricultural and urban areas, making effective wastewater treatment critical to maintaining water quality and ecological health.
Frequently asked questions
AMBOISE La Varenne is located in Amboise, in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, near the Loire River.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 14,260, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Loire River, which flows through the Loire Valley to the Atlantic Ocean.
As a French plant serving over 10,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment and compliance with quality standards for receiving waters.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving 10,000-150,000 people typically require secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal may be needed to protect water bodies like the Loire River.
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