Overview
La Côte-aux-Fées wastewater treatment plant serves 780 residents in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, with advanced treatment. It discharges 354 m³/day of treated effluent into the local watershed.
La Côte-aux-Fées wastewater treatment plant is located in the village of La Côte-aux-Fées, in the canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The plant serves a small population of 780 residents, reflecting the rural character of the Jura mountain region. It operates with a designed capacity of 700 m³ per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 354 m³. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by Swiss regulations for small agglomerations. Switzerland's Water Protection Act mandates stringent effluent quality, particularly for sensitive water bodies. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) and possibly disinfection, ensuring high-quality discharge. The treated effluent is released into the local watershed, which drains into the Areuse River and eventually into Lake Neuchâtel, the largest lake entirely within Switzerland. Lake Neuchâtel supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological and recreational resource. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect this sensitive lake ecosystem from nutrient pollution.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Areuse River basin, which flows into Lake Neuchâtel, a large perialpine lake. Lake Neuchâtel is ecologically sensitive, supporting fish species like Arctic char and whitefish, and serves as a key stopover for migratory birds. The advanced treatment at La Côte-aux-Fées reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication in the lake.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in La Côte-aux-Fées, a village in the canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in the Jura mountain region.
The plant serves approximately 780 residents, making it a small-scale facility for a rural community.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Areuse River and ultimately into Lake Neuchâtel.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal and possibly disinfection, exceeding the secondary treatment standard required for small agglomerations in Switzerland.
Switzerland's Water Protection Act requires all wastewater treatment plants to meet strict effluent quality standards. For small plants like La Côte-aux-Fées, advanced treatment helps protect sensitive receiving waters such as Lake Neuchâtel.
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