SAINT SULPICE DE FALEYRENS SAINT EMILION Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens, France

The SAINT SULPICE DE FALEYRENS SAINT EMILION wastewater treatment plant is located in Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens, within the Gironde department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It serves a population of approximately 3,541, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated near the Dordogne River, a major tributary of the Garonne, and ultimately drains into the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The designed capacity is 2,500 m³/day, with a reported discharge volume of 631.71 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. As a French facility, it operates under national regulations transposing the EU UWWTD, with permits issued by the local water agency (Agence de l'Eau). The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, likely the Dordogne River, which flows through the renowned wine-growing region of Saint-Émilion. The Dordogne is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a migratory corridor for fish such as salmon and eels. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading into the river, protecting downstream water quality in the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic coastal zone.

The plant discharges into the Dordogne River basin, which flows through the Gironde department and joins the Garonne to form the Gironde estuary, the largest estuary in Europe. This estuary is a critical habitat for migratory fish and supports a rich ecosystem. The advanced treatment at this plant helps minimize nutrient pollution, safeguarding the ecological health of the Dordogne and the downstream marine environment.