SAINT MACAIRE EN MAUGE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sèvremoine, France

The SAINT MACAIRE EN MAUGE wastewater treatment plant is located in Sèvremoine, within the Pays de la Loire region of France. It serves a population of around 5,780, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure. Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes and capacity are managed to comply with these regulations, ensuring that effluent meets quality standards before discharge. The treated wastewater from this facility 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 plays a role in protecting the water quality of these downstream environments, supporting aquatic life and maintaining ecological balance in the region.

The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the larger Loire River basin. The Loire River flows through western France and empties into the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean. This basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in these downstream environments, reducing nutrient loads and preventing eutrophication in sensitive areas.