BAULE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Baule, Centre-Val de Loire, France

The BAULE wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Baule, within the Loiret department of the Centre-Val de Loire region in north-central France. The facility serves a population of approximately 3,021 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,500 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 538.94 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment of municipal wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River, one of France's major rivers. The Loire River flows westward through the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ecological and cultural significance, before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Loire basin.

The BAULE plant discharges treated wastewater into the Loire River basin, which flows through the Centre-Val de Loire region and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire River supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The plant's advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and maintaining water quality for both ecological and human uses.