La Gacilly Le Bout du Pont Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cournon, Brittany

La Gacilly Le Bout du Pont is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cournon, within the Brittany region of France. The facility serves a population of around 13,006, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU guidelines. It is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and operates within the French regulatory framework. As a plant serving over 10,000 people, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating it is sized to handle the local wastewater load. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that eventually drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the Vilaine River or other regional basins. The surrounding area includes agricultural land and small rivers, making proper nutrient removal important to prevent eutrophication. The plant's operation supports the ecological health of Brittany's inland waters and downstream coastal zones.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Vilaine River basin, which ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The region's watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory fish species. Nutrient management is critical to avoid algal blooms in downstream estuaries and coastal areas.