VERNOUX 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Vernoux-en-Vivarais, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

VERNOUX 1 is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Vernoux-en-Vivarais, a commune in the Ardèche department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. The plant serves a population equivalent of 2,900 and has a designed capacity of 4,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 517.35 m³/day. As an advanced treatment plant, VERNOUX 1 goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (2,900 PE), the directive requires secondary treatment, but the plant's advanced level indicates operation in a sensitive area or a commitment to higher environmental protection. The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Rhône River basin. The Ardèche region is known for its karst landscapes and sensitive aquatic ecosystems, making advanced treatment crucial for protecting downstream water quality and biodiversity.

VERNOUX 1 discharges into the local watershed of the Ardèche River, a tributary of the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Ardèche River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The region's karst geology makes groundwater particularly vulnerable to contamination, so advanced treatment helps protect both surface and groundwater quality.