DIGOIN Wastewater Treatment Plant, La Motte-Saint-Jean, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

The DIGOIN wastewater treatment plant is located in La Motte-Saint-Jean, a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. The facility serves a population of approximately 19,972, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under French and EU regulations. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, agglomerations of this scale are required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum. In sensitive areas, such as those draining into nutrient-sensitive water bodies, tertiary treatment may be mandated. It operates within France's national regulatory framework, which transposes the directive into local law. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River basin. The Loire is France's longest river and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The receiving water body supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor. The plant's operations are subject to permits issued by French authorities to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

The DIGOIN plant discharges into the Loire River basin, which flows through central France before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire is known for its biodiversity, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The watershed supports agricultural and urban areas, and nutrient loading from wastewater can impact water quality. The plant's treatment level helps protect downstream ecosystems from excessive nutrient pollution.