Overview
SELESTAT wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 88,000 people in Sélestat, Grand Est, France. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The SELESTAT wastewater treatment plant is located in Sélestat, a commune in the Bas-Rhin department of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. The facility serves an estimated population of 88,000, placing it within the EU classification of a large agglomeration requiring advanced treatment to protect sensitive receiving waters. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent greater than 10,000 are required to provide at least secondary treatment. For larger agglomerations like Sélestat, the directive may require more stringent treatment if the discharge enters a sensitive area. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these regulatory standards, ensuring compliance with French water quality laws. The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Rhine River basin. The Rhine is a major European waterway that flows through Germany and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the water quality of the Ill River, a tributary of the Rhine, and the broader Rhine ecosystem, which supports diverse aquatic life and serves as an important migratory corridor for fish.
Environmental context
The SELESTAT plant discharges into the Ill River, a tributary of the Rhine River. The Rhine flows through Germany and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The region supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as salmon and eel, and the river is an important migratory corridor. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive basin.
Frequently asked questions
The SELESTAT wastewater treatment plant is located in Sélestat, in the Bas-Rhin department of the Grand Est region, northeastern France.
The plant serves approximately 88,000 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent from the SELESTAT plant is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Ill River, a tributary of the Rhine River, which ultimately reaches the North Sea.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent, with potential tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
In France, plants serving agglomerations of this size typically provide secondary biological treatment, and may include nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas, in compliance with the EU UWWTD and French water quality standards.
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