Montbellet Wastewater Treatment Plant, Montbellet, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

The Montbellet wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Montbellet, within the Saône-et-Loire department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. It serves a population of approximately 3,964 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats wastewater from the local community. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a design capacity of 3,550 m³ per day and an average daily discharge volume of 707 m³, the plant operates well within its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Saône River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Rhône flows into the Mediterranean Sea, making the plant's advanced treatment important for protecting downstream water quality in both the Saône and Rhône river systems, as well as the Mediterranean coastal environment.

The plant discharges into the Saône River basin, which flows into the Rhône River and eventually the Mediterranean Sea. The Saône is a significant river in eastern France, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and recreation. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads and pollutants, protecting the ecological health of the Saône and downstream waters, including the Rhône delta and the Gulf of Lion.