Overview
PONT D AIN Chef lieu is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Druillat, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, serving 2,780 people with a designed capacity of 3,500 m³/day.
PONT D AIN Chef lieu is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Druillat, within the Ain department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. The plant serves a population of 2,780 and has a designed capacity of 3,500 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 495.95 m³/day. As an advanced treatment facility, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent French and EU standards. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations under 10,000 population equivalent are generally required to provide secondary treatment, but France often mandates advanced treatment in sensitive areas to protect water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River basin. The Rhône is a major European river that flows into the Mediterranean Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and industry. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream water bodies from eutrophication.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Ain River, a tributary of the Rhône River, which flows southward into the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône basin supports a rich diversity of fish species, including migratory fish like eels and sturgeon, and its delta is an ecologically sensitive area for birdlife. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, helping to maintain water quality in the downstream river system and the Mediterranean coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on D 984, Le Cruix, in Druillat, within the Ain department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France.
The plant serves a population of 2,780 people.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Ain River, a tributary of the Rhône River, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations under 10,000 population equivalent are generally required to provide secondary treatment. However, France often mandates advanced treatment in sensitive areas to further protect water quality, as is the case here.
For plants of this scale in France, secondary treatment is the minimum standard, but advanced treatment is common in sensitive catchments to reduce nutrients and protect downstream ecosystems, especially in the Rhône basin.
Nearby plants