GUERET LES GOUTTES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Fiel, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

GUERET LES GOUTTES is a wastewater treatment plant located in Saint-Fiel, near Guéret, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The plant serves a population of approximately 16,836 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure. As a French wastewater facility, GUERET LES GOUTTES operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for collection and treatment based on population size. For agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent, the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, with tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. It is expected to comply with these EU standards. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Creuse River, a tributary of the Vienne River, and then into the Loire River before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. This downstream water body chain supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local environment by reducing pollutant loads before discharge.

The GUERET LES GOUTTES plant discharges into the local watershed that feeds the Creuse River, a tributary of the Vienne River, which flows into the Loire River and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. This river system supports diverse aquatic habitats and is used for recreation and agriculture. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this sensitive inland basin, reducing nutrient and organic pollution that could affect downstream ecosystems.