HERRLISHEIM Wastewater Treatment Plant, Herrlisheim, Grand Est, France

HERRLISHEIM is a wastewater treatment plant located in the industrial zone of Herrlisheim, a commune in the Bas-Rhin department of Grand Est, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 9,400 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under French and EU regulations. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum standard. The plant operates within France's national regulatory framework, which implements the directive through local water agencies and prefectural oversight. Treatment processes and capacity details are managed by the responsible operator to meet discharge standards. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Rhine River basin. The Rhine is a major European waterway that flows through Germany and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The plant's operations help protect the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Rhine basin, which support diverse fish populations and migratory bird species.

The treated effluent from HERRLISHEIM enters local watercourses that feed into the Rhine River, one of Europe's most important waterways. The Rhine basin supports a rich diversity of aquatic life, including salmonids and other migratory fish, and is a critical corridor for bird migration. Downstream, the river flows through the Rhine Delta into the North Sea, a productive marine environment. Protecting water quality in this basin is essential for maintaining ecological balance and supporting human uses such as drinking water supply and recreation.