GUILHERAND GRANGES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Guilherand-Granges, France

The GUILHERAND GRANGES wastewater treatment plant is located in Guilherand-Granges, a commune in the Ardèche department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 25,650, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU 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. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these regulatory standards, ensuring compliance with national and European water quality requirements. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River, one of Europe's major waterways. The Rhône flows southward through the Rhône Valley and into the Mediterranean Sea. This discharge contributes to the ecological health of the river system, supporting diverse aquatic life and maintaining water quality for downstream communities.

The plant discharges into the Rhône River basin, a major hydrological system that flows through southeastern France and into the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as the European eel and various migratory fish. The watershed is also important for agriculture and urban water supply, making effective wastewater treatment critical for protecting downstream water quality and ecological balance.