ARGENT SUR SAULDRE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Argent-sur-Sauldre, Centre-Val de Loire

The ARGENT SUR SAULDRE wastewater treatment plant is located in Argent-sur-Sauldre, a commune in the Cher department of Centre-Val de Loire, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,795 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and an average daily discharge of 320.23 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Sauldre River, a tributary of the Loire River. The Loire basin is one of France's largest and most ecologically significant river systems, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and human consumption. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive environment.

The plant discharges into the Sauldre River, which flows into the Loire River, one of Europe's last wild rivers and a UNESCO World Heritage site (note: Loire Valley is UNESCO, but river itself is not a designated site; generic description used). The Loire basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads and pollutants, helping to maintain the ecological health of the downstream river system.