ROUHLING Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rouhling, Grand Est, France

ROUHLING is a wastewater treatment plant located in Rouhling, a commune in the Moselle department of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,300 residents and is situated on Rue de Sarreguemines. It operates under the French regulatory framework, which implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU directive for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,500 m³/day and a reported discharge volume of 231.92 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Sarre River and then the Moselle River, a major tributary of the Rhine. The Rhine basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as an important migratory corridor for fish species. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this transboundary river system.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that flows into the Sarre River, a tributary of the Moselle River, which joins the Rhine River. The Rhine basin is a major European waterway supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical corridor for migratory fish such as salmon and eel. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water bodies from eutrophication.