BELFORT Wastewater Treatment Plant, Belfort, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

The BELFORT wastewater treatment plant is located in Belfort, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France. It serves an estimated population of 84,025, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Savoureuse River, which flows through the city and eventually joins the Doubs River. As a facility serving over 10,000 people, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations of this size, with more stringent tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these regulatory standards, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and nutrients. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local water system, which drains into the Doubs River, a tributary of the Saône, and ultimately flows into the Rhône River and the Mediterranean Sea. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in protecting the water quality of the Rhône basin and the marine environment. The plant's operation is critical for maintaining the ecological health of the Savoureuse and Doubs rivers, which support diverse aquatic life and are used for recreation and water supply.

The BELFORT plant discharges into the Savoureuse River, a tributary of the Doubs River, which flows into the Saône and then the Rhône River before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as brown trout and grayling. The plant's treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution that could lead to eutrophication in downstream water bodies, particularly in the Rhône delta and coastal Mediterranean areas.