Overview
SAINT BENOIT REUNION wastewater treatment plant serves Saint-Benoît, La Réunion, France. It treats wastewater for approximately 22,891 people, operating under French and EU regulations.
SAINT BENOIT REUNION is a wastewater treatment plant located in Saint-Benoît, on the island of La Réunion, an overseas department of France. The plant serves a population of around 22,891 residents, making it a medium-sized agglomeration in the local context. Situated in the Bras-Fusil area, it plays a key role in managing municipal wastewater for this coastal community. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. French regulations transpose this directive, and plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalents typically must meet secondary treatment standards. The regulatory framework ensures appropriate treatment for the population served. The plant discharges treated effluent into local water bodies that ultimately flow to the Indian Ocean. La Réunion's unique tropical ecosystem includes sensitive coastal reefs and marine habitats. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to protect these environments from nutrient pollution and pathogens, supporting biodiversity and public health along the island's eastern coast.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters local streams and rivers in the Bras-Fusil watershed, which drain to the Indian Ocean near Saint-Benoît. This coastal area features fringing coral reefs and seagrass beds that are sensitive to nutrient loading and pollution. The receiving waters support diverse marine life, including fish and invertebrates important for local fisheries. Effective treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically significant coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in the Beaufond area of Bras-Fusil, Saint-Benoît, on the island of La Réunion, an overseas department of France.
The plant serves approximately 22,891 people, representing a medium-sized agglomeration in La Réunion.
Treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies in the Bras-Fusil watershed, which flow to the Indian Ocean near Saint-Benoît.
As a French plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalents.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalents are required to provide secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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