Overview
BAULMES wastewater treatment plant in Baulmes, Vaud, Switzerland, serves about 2,192 people with advanced treatment and a designed capacity of 3,663 m³/day.
The BAULMES wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Baulmes, in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois, canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It serves a population of approximately 2,192 residents, making it a small-scale facility within the Swiss wastewater infrastructure. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by Swiss regulations. With a designed capacity of 3,663 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 995 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. Swiss wastewater treatment plants are governed by the Federal Water Protection Act (GSchG) and the Water Protection Ordinance (GSchV), which mandate strict effluent standards for all agglomerations. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that eventually drain into the Rhône River basin and ultimately the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's aquatic ecosystems, including the nearby Arnon River and Lake Geneva watershed, by removing nutrients and pollutants before discharge.
Environmental context
The BAULMES plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Arnon River, a tributary of the Orbe River, which joins the Rhône River. The Rhône flows through Lake Geneva and continues to the Mediterranean Sea. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as brown trout and grayling. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality in Lake Geneva, a large freshwater body sensitive to eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
The BAULMES plant is located at Rue du Clos in Baulmes, in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois, canton of Vaud, Switzerland.
The plant serves approximately 2,192 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Swiss wastewater regulations.
The plant uses advanced treatment processes, which include biological nutrient removal and possibly tertiary filtration, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge.
The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Arnon River, part of the Rhône River basin, ultimately reaching Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean Sea.
The plant operates under the Swiss Federal Water Protection Act (GSchG) and Water Protection Ordinance (GSchV), which require advanced treatment for sensitive areas and strict effluent limits.
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