LA FLECHE Le Pre neuf Wastewater Treatment Plant, La Flèche, Pays de la Loire

LA FLECHE Le Pre neuf is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in La Flèche, a town in the Sarthe department of the Pays de la Loire region in northwestern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 14,166 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under French and EU regulations. As a French treatment 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 plant's treatment processes and capacity are managed to meet national standards set by the French Ministry of Ecology and local water agencies. The treated effluent is discharged into the Loir River, a tributary of the Sarthe River, which flows into the Maine River and ultimately reaches the Loire River. The Loire is one of France's major rivers, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and recreation. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Loir and downstream waters.

The plant discharges into the Loir River, which flows through the Sarthe department before joining the Sarthe River. The Sarthe then meets the Maine River, which empties into the Loire River, one of Europe's last wild rivers. The Loire basin supports a rich variety of fish species, including Atlantic salmon and European eel, and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system.