CHACE L Humelay Wastewater Treatment Plant - Artannes-sur-Thouet, Pays de la Loire

CHACE L Humelay is a wastewater treatment plant located in Artannes-sur-Thouet, within the Pays de la Loire region of France. The facility serves a population of approximately 13,800 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Thouet River, a tributary of the Loire River, and plays a key role in protecting local water quality. As a French plant serving over 10,000 population equivalent, CHACE L Humelay operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. For agglomerations of this scale in sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may also be mandated to reduce nutrient loads. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with discharge standards. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which flows into the Thouet River and eventually the Loire River, one of France's major waterways. The Loire basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. Proper treatment at this plant helps maintain water quality in the downstream environment, including the Loire estuary and the Bay of Biscay.

The plant's treated effluent enters the Thouet River, a tributary of the Loire River, which flows through the Pays de la Loire region before reaching the Atlantic Ocean via the Loire estuary. The Loire basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a migratory route for species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Nutrient removal at this plant helps prevent eutrophication in downstream waters, including the sensitive Loire estuary.