AUTUN Wastewater Treatment Plant, Autun, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

The AUTUN wastewater treatment plant is located at 8, Chemin de la Bruyère aux Mâles in Autun, a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. The plant serves an estimated population of 53,872, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU classification. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent. For larger agglomerations discharging into sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with national and EU standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River basin. The Loire is France's longest river and supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The plant's operations contribute to protecting downstream water quality in the Loire and its tributaries.

The AUTUN plant discharges into the Arroux River, a tributary of the Loire River. The Loire basin is one of France's largest watersheds, supporting diverse aquatic life including migratory fish like Atlantic salmon and European eel. The plant's treated effluent helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.