ST CHELY D APCHER Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rimeize, Occitanie

ST CHELY D APCHER is a wastewater treatment plant located in Rimeize, within the Occitanie region of southern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,998 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats wastewater from the local community. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 8,000 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 891.63 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity, indicating efficient management. As a French facility, it operates under national regulations that transpose EU directives, ensuring compliance with stringent environmental standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the Loire River basin. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems, and maintaining the ecological balance of the surrounding watershed. Its advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient pollution and safeguard downstream environments.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Loire River basin, one of France's major river systems. The Loire flows westward into the Atlantic Ocean, supporting diverse aquatic life and important migratory fish species. The advanced treatment at this facility helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting the ecological health of the river and its estuary.