Rochechouart La Maillerie le puy du moulin Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The Rochechouart La Maillerie le puy du moulin wastewater treatment plant serves the commune of Rochechouart in the Haute-Vienne department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Designed for a capacity of 6,000 m³/day, the plant currently treats an average of 446 m³/day, serving a population equivalent of 2,500. As an advanced treatment facility, it provides a higher level of pollutant removal beyond secondary treatment. Operating under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the plant meets the requirements for sensitive areas, which are common in the region due to the ecological value of local water bodies. For agglomerations of this size (2,500 PE), the directive mandates appropriate treatment, and advanced treatment is often required in sensitive catchments to reduce nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Vienne River, a tributary of the Loire. The Loire basin is one of France's largest and most ecologically significant river systems, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and human consumption. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this important basin.

The plant discharges into the Vienne River watershed, which flows into the Loire River and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire basin is a major ecological corridor supporting migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream rivers and coastal zones.