BOURBON LANCY LES FORGES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bourbon-Lancy, France

BOURBON LANCY LES FORGES is a wastewater treatment plant located in Bourbon-Lancy, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. The plant serves a population of around 6,179 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated in the Loire River basin, an important waterway in central France. As a French plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it falls under the requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment for discharges into freshwater. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment to meet regulatory standards. The directive requires that discharges from agglomerations of this size receive secondary treatment or equivalent. The plant discharges into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River. The Loire is France's longest river, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive, particularly in the Loire Valley, a region known for its biodiversity and migratory fish populations.

The plant's treated effluent enters the local watercourse, which flows into the Loire River. The Loire is a major European river that empties into the Atlantic Ocean, supporting a rich ecosystem including migratory fish such as Atlantic salmon and eel. The watershed is ecologically sensitive, with floodplain wetlands and riparian habitats that provide critical ecosystem services.