EPERNON _LE LOREAU Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hanches, France

EPERNON _LE LOREAU is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Hanches, within the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,928 and is designed to handle up to 6,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day, with an average daily discharge of 879.15 cubic meters. As an advanced treatment plant, it goes beyond secondary biological processes to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, ensuring high-quality effluent. This level of treatment is typical for plants in sensitive catchment areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires tertiary treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent discharging into sensitive areas. Although the plant serves fewer than 10,000 people, its advanced treatment reflects local environmental priorities. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Seine River basin and flows into the English Channel. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems, and meeting France's commitments under the Water Framework Directive.

The plant discharges into the Seine River basin, which flows northward through Paris and into the English Channel. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream water bodies from eutrophication and maintaining water quality for both ecological and human uses.