Tartary Wastewater Treatment Plant, Aubenas, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

The Tartary wastewater treatment plant is located in Aubenas, within the Ardèche department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. It serves a population of 2,870 and operates with advanced treatment processes, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge. As a facility in France, the plant operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment as a minimum and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. With advanced treatment, the plant meets stringent standards for nutrient removal and pathogen reduction, typical for facilities protecting sensitive water bodies. The plant discharges into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ardèche River and then the Rhône River, a major European waterway flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports biodiversity in the region.

The plant discharges into the Ardèche River basin, which flows into the Rhône River and eventually the Mediterranean Sea. The Ardèche River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in this sensitive watershed.