Gries Wastewater Treatment Plant - Grand Est, France

The Gries wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Gries, within the Bas-Rhin department of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. It serves a population of approximately 5,300 residents and operates with advanced treatment capabilities, ensuring high-quality effluent discharge. As an advanced treatment facility, Gries employs processes that go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. The plant has a designed capacity of 5,300 population equivalents and treats an average daily flow of 945.51 cubic meters. It operates under France's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates advanced treatment for sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Rhine River basin. The Rhine is a major European waterway flowing through Germany and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Rhine basin, supporting biodiversity and water quality downstream.

The Gries plant discharges into the local drainage network that feeds the Moder River, a tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin is a major ecological corridor in Europe, supporting diverse fish species and migratory birds. The plant's advanced treatment reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and the North Sea.