CINQ MARS LA PILE Les Pres Martin Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, France

CINQ MARS LA PILE Les Pres Martin is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in the commune of Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, within the Indre-et-Loire department of Centre-Val de Loire, France. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,883 residents, with a designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 514.32 m³/day. 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. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters, aligning with France's implementation of the directive in sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River, one of France's major rivers. The Loire River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important ecological corridor. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect downstream water quality in the Loire Valley, a region known for its biodiversity and agricultural significance.

The plant discharges into the Loire River basin, which flows through the Centre-Val de Loire region and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean near Saint-Nazaire. The Loire is one of the last free-flowing rivers in Europe, supporting diverse fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient pollution, helping to protect the river's ecological health and downstream estuarine habitats.