Montreuil Bellay Durandiere Wastewater Treatment Plant, Montreuil-Bellay, France

The Montreuil Bellay Durandiere wastewater treatment plant is located in Montreuil-Bellay, a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department of the Pays de la Loire region, France. The plant serves a population of 3,450 and is designed to handle a capacity of 7,500 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 615.47 m³/day. As an advanced treatment facility, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent French and European standards. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment, but this plant's advanced level indicates it likely discharges into a sensitive area requiring tertiary treatment. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River, one of France's major rivers. The Loire River flows into the Atlantic Ocean, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and recreation. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Loire River basin, which flows through the Pays de la Loire region and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Saint-Nazaire. The Loire is a vital ecological corridor supporting migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel, as well as diverse birdlife. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in the river and its estuary.