Bourg-Saint-Andéol Wastewater Treatment Plant, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

The Bourg-Saint-Andéol wastewater treatment plant is located in the Ardèche department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. It serves the commune of Bourg-Saint-Andéol, a town situated along the Rhône River, with a population of about 8,500 people. The plant is part of France's municipal wastewater infrastructure, managed under the national implementation of EU directives. As a facility serving a population between 2,000 and 10,000, the plant is classified as a medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment (biological treatment) for such agglomerations discharging into freshwater. The plant's treatment process and capacity are aligned with these regulatory standards to ensure compliance with French water quality regulations. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Rhône River, one of Europe's major waterways, which flows southward to the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important corridor for migratory fish species. The plant's operation contributes to protecting the river's water quality and the downstream environment, including the Camargue delta and the Mediterranean coastal zone.

The Bourg-Saint-Andéol plant discharges into the Rhône River, which flows approximately 500 km south to the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and serving as a migratory route for species such as European eels and Atlantic salmon. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this major river, which is used for drinking water, agriculture, and recreation downstream.