METABIEF Wastewater Treatment Plant, Métabief, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

The METABIEF wastewater treatment plant is located in Métabief, a commune in the Doubs department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, eastern France. Situated near the Swiss border in the Jura mountains, the plant serves a population equivalent of 18,100, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. The facility is designed with a capacity of 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar unit), supporting the local community and nearby areas. As a French wastewater treatment plant, METABIEF operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes and operational status are consistent with national standards for medium-sized communities in the region. The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that eventually feed into the Doubs River, a tributary of the Saône, which flows into the Rhône and ultimately the Mediterranean Sea. The Jura region is known for its karstic geology and sensitive aquatic ecosystems, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting groundwater and surface water quality. The plant plays a key role in maintaining the ecological health of the Doubs watershed.

The METABIEF plant discharges into the Bief Rouge stream, a tributary of the Doubs River. The Doubs flows through the Jura mountains into the Saône River, which joins the Rhône and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as brown trout and grayling, and is ecologically sensitive due to karstic geology that can rapidly transmit pollutants to groundwater.