Overview
BITCHE wastewater treatment plant serves Bitche, Grand Est, France, with advanced treatment for a population of 5,550. It discharges approximately 990 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 8,700 m³/day.
The BITCHE wastewater treatment plant is located in Bitche, within the Grand Est region of France. It serves a population of approximately 5,550 people, making it a small to medium-sized municipal facility. The plant is situated in a rural area near the German border, within the Moselle department. 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. With a designed capacity of 8,700 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 990 m³/day, the facility has significant spare capacity. The advanced treatment likely includes nutrient removal to protect sensitive receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Rhine River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems, and maintaining the ecological health of downstream rivers and groundwater resources.
Environmental context
The BITCHE plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Moselle River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a critical migratory corridor for fish. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream waters from eutrophication and maintaining biodiversity in this transboundary river system.
Frequently asked questions
The BITCHE plant is located at Ramsteiner Muehle, Bitche, in the Moselle department of Grand Est, France, near the German border.
The plant serves approximately 5,550 people in the Bitche area.
The plant uses advanced treatment processes, which include nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment, to meet stringent environmental standards.
The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Moselle River, a tributary of the Rhine, helping to protect the Rhine basin ecosystem.
As a French plant, BITCHE operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 people. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds these requirements.
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