Overview
Blois wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 148,000 people in Centre-Val de Loire, France. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Blois wastewater treatment plant is a major municipal facility serving the city of Blois and surrounding areas in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. With a population equivalent of around 148,000, it is classified as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a French plant serving over 100,000 people, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary biological treatment as a minimum. For sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated to reduce nutrients and protect receiving waters. The plant discharges treated effluent into the Loire River, France's longest river, which flows through the Loire Valley and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire Valley is an ecologically significant region, supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel.
Environmental context
The Blois plant discharges into the Loire River, which flows through the Loire Valley and drains into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The Loire is one of Europe's last wild rivers, with a dynamic floodplain and diverse habitats. Downstream, the river supports important fisheries and migratory bird populations. The plant's nutrient removal performance is critical to prevent eutrophication in the estuary and coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
The Blois plant is located in the city of Blois, in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, near the Loire River.
The plant serves approximately 148,000 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Loire River, which flows through the Loire Valley and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
As a French plant serving over 100,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and, in sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal.
Plants of this scale in France typically employ secondary biological treatment (activated sludge or similar) and often include tertiary treatment for phosphorus and nitrogen removal to protect sensitive water bodies like the Loire.
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