Tournus Wastewater Treatment Plant - Tournus, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

The Tournus wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Tournus, in the Saône-et-Loire department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. It serves a population of approximately 3,442 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French regulations. The plant is situated near the Saône River, which is the primary receiving water body for treated effluent. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 10,500 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 614.05 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Treated wastewater from the plant discharges into the Saône River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Saône flows southward through eastern France, eventually joining the Rhône near Lyon, which then empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Saône's water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems in the Rhône basin.

The Tournus plant discharges into the Saône River, which flows through the Rhône basin to the Mediterranean Sea. The Saône supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and organic pollution, safeguarding the river's ecological health and downstream wetlands.