AUREC SUR LOIRE Le Bourg Wastewater Treatment Plant, Aurec-sur-Loire, France

AUREC SUR LOIRE Le Bourg is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Aurec-sur-Loire, a commune in the Haute-Loire department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in central France. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,489 residents and is situated along the Loire River, the longest river in France. As a facility in a small agglomeration, it plays a key role in protecting local water quality. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to reduce eutrophication risks in sensitive receiving waters. The plant's designed capacity is 9,900 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 800.83 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the Loire River, which flows northward through central France before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's advanced treatment helps maintain the river's water quality, particularly downstream in the Loire Valley, a region known for its biodiversity and viticulture.

The plant discharges into the Loire River, which flows approximately 1,000 km north and west to the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The Loire basin is a major ecological corridor, supporting species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent algal blooms and protect downstream habitats, including the Loire Valley's sensitive wetlands and floodplain ecosystems.