CHARLIEU BOURG Wastewater Treatment Plant, Charlieu, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

CHARLIEU BOURG is a wastewater treatment plant located in Charlieu, a commune in the Loire department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 8,545 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU regulations. As a French facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater. The regulatory framework ensures appropriate treatment standards are met. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River, France's longest river. The Loire flows into the Atlantic Ocean, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems along its course. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this region.

The plant discharges into the Loire River basin, which flows through central France before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The watershed includes ecologically sensitive areas that benefit from effective wastewater treatment to maintain water quality and biodiversity.