Charquemont Wastewater Treatment Plant, Charquemont, France

The Charquemont wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Charquemont, within the Doubs department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. It serves a population of approximately 4,800 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French regulations. The plant is situated in the Jura mountain region, near the Swiss border, and its operations are part of the municipal infrastructure managed by local authorities. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,500 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 856.31 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. The advanced treatment level ensures high-quality effluent suitable for discharge into sensitive environments. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Doubs River, a tributary of the Saône, and then into the Rhône River before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's location in a rural, forested area near the Jura Mountains means the receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional biodiversity. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream ecosystems and water quality.

The plant discharges into the Doubs River basin, which flows through the Jura region into the Saône and Rhône rivers, eventually reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The local watershed supports sensitive aquatic habitats, including populations of brown trout and other cold-water species. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological integrity of the downstream river system.