AIRE 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland

AIRE 2 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Vernier, in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It serves a population of approximately 37,600 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration within the Swiss wastewater infrastructure network. The plant is situated near the Rhone River, which flows through Geneva and ultimately into Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). Switzerland enforces stringent water protection standards under the Federal Water Protection Act (Gewässerschutzgesetz). For agglomerations of this scale, secondary treatment with nutrient removal is typically required to meet the country's high environmental standards. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating a facility capable of handling the wastewater load from its service area. The treated effluent from AIRE 2 is discharged into the Rhone River, which flows from the Rhone Glacier through Geneva and into Lake Geneva. The lake is a critical freshwater resource for the region, supporting drinking water supplies, recreation, and diverse aquatic ecosystems. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Rhone and Lake Geneva from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

AIRE 2 discharges into the Rhone River, which flows through Geneva and into Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), one of the largest freshwater lakes in Western Europe. The lake supports a rich ecosystem, including endemic fish species and migratory birds, and serves as a drinking water source for over a million people. The plant's operations are critical to maintaining the lake's oligotrophic status and preventing algal blooms from nutrient loading.