SALLANCHES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sallanches, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

The SALLANCHES wastewater treatment plant is located in Sallanches, a commune in the Haute-Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 48,675 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under European Union classification. As a French wastewater facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating a moderate scale. The plant is situated within 10 km of the coast, suggesting its treated effluent may eventually reach the Mediterranean Sea or a coastal lagoon. The local watershed includes the Arve River, a tributary of the Rhône, which flows into Lake Geneva and then the Rhône River to the Mediterranean. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive alpine region.

The SALLANCHES plant discharges into the local watershed, which drains via the Arve River into the Rhône River and ultimately into the Mediterranean Sea. This alpine region supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means that treated effluent can influence coastal water quality, necessitating effective nutrient removal to prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies.