DURTAL La Plissonniere Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durtal, France

DURTAL La Plissonniere is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Durtal, a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department of the Pays de la Loire region, France. The plant serves a population of around 2,500, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for this small agglomeration. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 3,167 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 447 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a French plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment levels based on the sensitivity of the receiving environment. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River, one of France's major rivers. The Loire basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important ecological corridor. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and the ecological health of the region.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that feeds into the Loire River, which flows westward to the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse fish populations and migratory bird species. The advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading and protects the river's water quality, which is vital for both aquatic life and human uses downstream.