STE SIGOLENE La Rouchouse Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sainte-Sigolène, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

STE SIGOLENE La Rouchouse is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Sainte-Sigolène, a commune in the Haute-Loire department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,258 residents, reflecting its role as a small-scale municipal facility in a rural setting. 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. With a designed capacity of 3,167 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 581.22 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment of local wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Loire River basin. The Loire is France's longest river and a vital ecological corridor, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and communities downstream. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect water quality in this sensitive river system.

The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Loire River basin. The Loire River flows through central France before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. This basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading and protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant river system.