Neuville-sur-Saône Wastewater Treatment Plant - Serving the Lyon Metropolitan Area

The Neuville-sur-Saône wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Neuville-sur-Saône, within the Lyon metropolitan area in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The plant serves a population of approximately 30,930, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under French and EU regulations. As a French wastewater facility, the plant 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 stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. Compliance with national standards is expected. The treated effluent is discharged into the Saône River, which flows southward to join the Rhône River near Lyon. The Rhône then continues to the Mediterranean Sea. The Saône and Rhône rivers support diverse aquatic ecosystems and are important for regional biodiversity, including fish species such as the European eel and various migratory birds.

The plant discharges into the Saône River, a major tributary of the Rhône River, which ultimately flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Saône basin supports a variety of aquatic life and is part of a larger river system that provides critical habitat for migratory fish and waterfowl. The region's temperate climate and agricultural land use influence the river's water quality, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining ecological balance.