Overview
Saint Bon Tarentaise Vanoise wastewater treatment plant serves Courchevel in the French Alps. It treats wastewater from approximately 63,333 people in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Saint Bon Tarentaise Vanoise is a wastewater treatment plant located in Courchevel, within the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. The plant serves a population of around 63,333, reflecting the seasonal influx of tourists to this alpine ski resort area. Its location in the Tarentaise Valley places it within a mountainous watershed that drains into the Isère River system. As a French facility serving an agglomeration of this size, the plant operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for populations over 15,000 and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. Given the alpine environment and potential sensitivity of downstream waters, the plant likely meets advanced treatment standards to protect the local ecosystem. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Doron de Bozel, a tributary of the Isère River, which flows through the Tarentaise Valley and eventually joins the Rhône River near Valence. The Rhône then empties into the Mediterranean Sea. This alpine watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality, particularly during the winter tourism season when population loads increase significantly.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Doron de Bozel, a tributary of the Isère River, which flows through the Tarentaise Valley. The Isère joins the Rhône River, which ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea. This alpine watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting cold-water fish species such as brown trout and serving as a corridor for migratory birds. The seasonal population surge from tourism places additional stress on the receiving waters, making effective treatment essential for maintaining downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Courchevel, in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. Its address is Route du Grand Pont, La Cuerdy, Saint-Bon-Tarentaise, Courchevel.
The plant serves approximately 63,333 people, which includes both permanent residents and seasonal tourists visiting the Courchevel ski resort area.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Doron de Bozel, a tributary of the Isère River. The Isère flows into the Rhône River, which eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea.
As a French plant serving over 15,000 people, it must comply with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, and likely tertiary treatment due to the sensitive alpine environment.
For an agglomeration of 63,333 people, French regulations typically mandate secondary biological treatment. In sensitive areas like alpine watersheds, tertiary treatment (nutrient removal) is often required to protect water quality.
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