Le Russey Wastewater Treatment Plant, Le Russey, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

The Le Russey wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Le Russey, within the Doubs department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. It serves a population of approximately 2,700 residents, making it a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated at 16 Rue de la Bourquine, in the La Nitrière area, and operates as a key municipal infrastructure for the local community. As a secondary treatment facility, Le Russey provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,100 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 481.68 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. Under the EU UWWTD, secondary treatment is the standard requirement for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size, ensuring compliance with European environmental standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually flow into the Doubs River, a tributary of the Saône, which joins the Rhône before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a vital role in protecting the Doubs River basin from pollution, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

The plant discharges into the Doubs River watershed, which flows through the Jura mountains and eventually joins the Saône River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Rhône drains into the Mediterranean Sea, making this plant part of a large transboundary basin. The Doubs River supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as brown trout and grayling, and the surrounding area is known for its karst landscapes and groundwater resources. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect downstream habitats.