SAINT ELOY LES MINES Bourg Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Éloy-les-Mines, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

SAINT ELOY LES MINES Bourg is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Saint-Éloy-les-Mines, a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, central France. The plant serves a population of around 3,180 residents and has a designed capacity of 4,700 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 567.31 m³/day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. As a French facility, it operates under national regulations transposing the EU directive, with permits issued by the local water agency (Agence de l'Eau). The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Loire River basin, one of France's major river systems. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream uses such as drinking water supply and recreation.

The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Loire River basin. The Loire flows north and west through central France before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The region supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, reducing the risk of eutrophication in downstream water bodies.