Saint Andre de la marche Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sèvremoine, Pays de la Loire

The Saint Andre de la marche wastewater treatment plant is located in Sèvremoine, within the Pays de la Loire region of France. It serves a population of 2,793 and operates with advanced treatment, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge. The plant's designed capacity is 4,000 m³/day, with an average daily flow of 498.27 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 of this size are required to provide secondary treatment, but Saint Andre de la marche exceeds this requirement with tertiary-level processes. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow through the Maine-et-Loire department, eventually reaching the Loire River. The Loire is one of France's major rivers, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and recreation downstream. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect these water bodies from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed into the Loire River basin, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire is a vital ecological corridor, supporting migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and protecting the sensitive estuarine and coastal environments of the Loire estuary.