CREHANGE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Créhange, Grand Est, France

The CREHANGE wastewater treatment plant is located in Créhange, a commune in the Moselle department of the Grand Est region, France. Serving a population equivalent of 9,250, the facility is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for this small agglomeration. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are integrated into the regional water management framework. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000 are required to provide secondary treatment. As CREHANGE serves 9,250 people, it falls within this category and must meet the directive's standards for biological treatment and nutrient removal where necessary. The plant's design and operation are subject to French national regulations that transpose EU requirements, ensuring treated effluent quality protects receiving waters. The treated wastewater from CREHANGE is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Moselle River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical water resource for the region. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality management of the Moselle watershed, which is monitored for ecological health and compliance with water framework directives.

The CREHANGE plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Moselle River, part of the Rhine basin. The Moselle supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. Downstream, the Rhine River flows through densely populated and industrial areas before reaching the North Sea. The plant's effluent quality is regulated to protect these waters from nutrient pollution and other contaminants, maintaining ecological balance in the watershed.