ROUGEMENT FLENDRUZ Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rougemont, Vaud, Switzerland

ROUGEMENT FLENDRUZ is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Rougemont, in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It serves a small population of 347 residents in the Alpine region of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut district. The plant is situated in the village of Flendruz, near the Sarine River valley. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 813 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 157.51 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. Swiss wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the Swiss Water Protection Act (Gewässerschutzgesetz), which mandates high standards for effluent quality, especially in sensitive Alpine watersheds. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Sarine River, a tributary of the Aare River, and then into the Rhine River. The Rhine flows through Germany and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the pristine Alpine streams and the downstream aquatic ecosystems, including fish habitats and biodiversity in the Rhine basin.

The plant discharges into the Sarine River catchment, which flows into the Aare River and then the Rhine River, eventually reaching the North Sea. The Alpine watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life including brown trout and other cold-water species. Advanced treatment ensures minimal nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality in the Rhine basin, which is a major European waterway.