SAINT BONNET LE CHATEAU Wastewater Treatment Plant - Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, France

Located in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, the SAINT BONNET LE CHATEAU wastewater treatment plant provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 1,985 residents. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and operates as part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the commune. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant meets the standard requirements under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for populations between 2,000 and 10,000 in normal areas, and Saint-Bonnet-le-Château falls just below this threshold, though the plant still provides secondary treatment. The plant's designed capacity is 2,100 m³/day, with an average daily discharge of 354.12 m³/day, indicating ample capacity for current loads. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Loire River basin. The Loire is one of France's major rivers, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems by reducing organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge.

The plant discharges into the Loire River basin, which flows through central France before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire is known for its diverse aquatic life and supports important migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically significant river system.