ROULLET SAINT ESTEPHE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Roullet-Saint-Estèphe, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

ROULLET SAINT ESTEPHE is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Roullet-Saint-Estèphe, a commune in the Charente department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,250 residents and is situated along the Route Val de Charente, reflecting its role in managing local wastewater for this small agglomeration. As an advanced treatment facility, ROULLET SAINT ESTEPHE goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent effluent quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and currently discharges 223 m³/day of treated wastewater, indicating significant spare capacity. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment, but the advanced level here suggests operation in a sensitive area or a commitment to higher environmental protection. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Charente River and then into the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the Charente River's water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems. Its inland location, over 50 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall health of the river basin.

The plant discharges into the Charente River basin, which flows through the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region to the Atlantic Ocean. The Charente River supports diverse aquatic habitats and is used for irrigation and recreation. Advanced treatment at this plant helps control nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality and the ecological balance of the river and its estuary.