La Gacerie Wastewater Treatment Plant, Auzouer-en-Touraine, France

La Gacerie is a wastewater treatment plant located in Auzouer-en-Touraine, a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department of the Centre-Val de Loire region, France. The plant serves a population of around 7,300 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under French and EU regulations. Its address is La Guilloterie, Launay, Auzouer-en-Touraine, within the Loches arrondissement. As a plant serving fewer than 10,000 population equivalent, it falls under the requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment based on the sensitivity of the receiving environment. For inland plants in this size category, secondary treatment is typically required unless the discharge is into a sensitive area that demands more advanced treatment. It is expected to comply with French national regulations implementing the directive. The treated effluent from La Gacerie is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Loire River basin. The Loire is one of France's major rivers, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a role in protecting the water quality of the Loire and its tributaries, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream uses such as drinking water supply and recreation.

The plant discharges into the Loire River basin, a major watershed in central France that drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire is known for its diverse aquatic habitats and supports species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Protecting water quality in this basin is important for maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity, particularly in areas designated as sensitive under the EU directive.