THENAY SAINT GAULTIER Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Gaultier, France

THENAY SAINT GAULTIER is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Saint-Gaultier, in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,014 residents and is situated along the Creuse River basin, an important watercourse in the region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 4,200 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 359.29 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment, and the advanced level here indicates a higher standard of environmental protection. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Creuse River and then into the Loire River, one of France's major rivers. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Creuse and Loire rivers, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream water uses.

The plant discharges into the Creuse River basin, which flows into the Loire River, the longest river in France. The Loire estuary and its floodplains support diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting the river's ecological balance and downstream environments.