Overview
La Boussiniere is an advanced wastewater treatment plant serving 1,050 people in Gennes-Val-de-Loire, France. It discharges 187.32 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 3,700 m³/day.
La Boussiniere is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located on Île du Buisson in Gennes-Val-de-Loire, within the Pays de la Loire region of France. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,050 people, reflecting its role as a small-scale municipal facility in the Loire Valley. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,700 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 187.32 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. The treated effluent is discharged into the Loire River, one of France's major waterways, which flows westward through the Loire Valley and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the river's ecological health, supporting diverse aquatic life and contributing to the preservation of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley landscape.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Loire River, which flows through the Loire Valley and empties into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The Loire is known for its rich biodiversity, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality and supporting the river's ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
La Boussiniere is located on Île du Buisson, in the commune of Gennes-Val-de-Loire, within the Maine-et-Loire department of the Pays de la Loire region, France.
The plant serves approximately 1,050 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Loire River, which flows through the Loire Valley and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
La Boussiniere provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment. This exceeds the EU directive's minimum requirement for small agglomerations.
As a French plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into French law. The directive mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent, but La Boussiniere voluntarily employs advanced treatment to protect the sensitive Loire River ecosystem.
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