ECOMMOY La Pocherie Wastewater Treatment Plant, Écommoy, France

ECOMMOY La Pocherie is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Écommoy, within the Pays de la Loire region of France. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,400 residents and has a design capacity of 5,000 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 784.95 m³/day. As an advanced treatment plant, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which is typical for facilities discharging into sensitive areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). France implements this directive through national regulations, requiring advanced treatment for agglomerations above 10,000 population equivalent in sensitive catchments, though smaller plants may also adopt advanced processes to protect local water quality. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Sarthe River, a tributary of the Loire River. The Loire basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a migratory corridor for species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in this important river system.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that flows into the Sarthe River, a tributary of the Loire River. The Loire basin is one of France's largest river systems, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and serving as an important migratory corridor for fish species. The advanced treatment process reduces nutrient pollution, helping to protect downstream water quality and ecological balance in the Loire estuary and the Bay of Biscay.