LE GRAND LUCE Route de Villaines Wastewater Treatment Plant, Villaines-sous-Lucé, France

LE GRAND LUCE Route de Villaines is a wastewater treatment plant located in Villaines-sous-Lucé, in the Pays de la Loire region of France. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,672 people and has a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 476.68 m³/day. 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. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River basin. The Loire is one of France's major rivers, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and drinking water downstream. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient pollution and protect water quality in the region.

The plant discharges into the local watershed within the Loire River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire basin supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies and the coastal zone.