FEILLENS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Feillens, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

The FEILLENS wastewater treatment plant is located in Feillens, a commune in the Ain department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 20,370, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under European Union regulations. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment process and capacity are managed by the local municipal authority. The treated effluent from the FEILLENS plant is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Saône River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Rhône flows into the Mediterranean Sea, making this plant part of a large and ecologically significant river basin that supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and industry.

The FEILLENS plant discharges into the Saône River basin, which flows into the Rhône River and then into the Mediterranean Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as the European eel and various migratory birds along the Rhône corridor. The region's agricultural and industrial activities place demands on water quality, making effective wastewater treatment essential for protecting downstream habitats.