Saint-Romain-le-Puy Wastewater Treatment Plant, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

The Saint-Romain-le-Puy wastewater treatment plant is located in the Loire department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. It serves the commune of Saint-Romain-le-Puy and surrounding areas, with a population equivalent of approximately 2,858. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal zones, and operates under French regulations transposing the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The facility provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,583 m³/day and currently discharges an average of 509.86 m³/day of treated wastewater. This indicates that the plant operates well below its maximum capacity, allowing for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Loire River basin. The Loire River is one of France's major rivers, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The advanced treatment helps protect the downstream aquatic environment, including sensitive ecosystems in the Loire Valley, by reducing nutrient loads and pollutants.

The plant discharges into the Loire River basin, which flows through central France before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire Valley is known for its rich biodiversity, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at this plant helps minimize nutrient enrichment and protects downstream water quality in this ecologically significant river system.