SANTENAY Wastewater Treatment Plant, Santenay, France

The Santenay wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Santenay, in the Côte-d'Or department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. It serves a population of approximately 5,220 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under French regulations. 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. Its designed capacity is 8,300 m³/day, and it currently discharges an average of 931.24 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Saône River and then the Rhône River, flowing toward the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Rhône basin, supporting biodiversity and water quality downstream.

The plant discharges into the local watercourse, part of the Saône River basin, which flows into the Rhône River and eventually the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading and protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.