Cuiseaux Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cuiseaux, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

The Cuiseaux wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Cuiseaux, within the Saône-et-Loire department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. Serving a population of approximately 54,800, the plant is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, handling domestic and industrial flows from the surrounding area. As a facility serving an agglomeration between 10,000 and 100,000 people, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC. This directive requires secondary treatment (biological treatment) for such agglomerations, with more stringent tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's operations are regulated by French authorities under the national transposition of the directive. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually flow into the Saône River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Rhône River drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of these downstream environments, supporting aquatic life and preventing eutrophication in the river system.

The Cuiseaux plant discharges into the Solnan River, a tributary of the Saône River, which flows into the Rhône and ultimately the Mediterranean Sea. The watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish populations and riparian habitats. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river network, preventing nutrient overloading and protecting downstream biodiversity.