Overview
ROUGEMONT wastewater treatment plant in Rougemont, Vaud, Switzerland, provides advanced treatment for a small population of 973. It discharges 441.67 m³/day of treated effluent.
ROUGEMONT is a wastewater treatment plant located in the village of Rougemont, within the District de la Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It serves a small population of approximately 973 residents, reflecting its role in a rural Alpine community. The plant is situated in the Swiss Alps, an area known for its pristine natural environment and tourism. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard typically required for small agglomerations under Swiss regulations. This level of treatment ensures high-quality effluent suitable for discharge into sensitive mountain streams. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,625 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 441.67 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The treated wastewater is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Sarine River, a tributary of the Aare River, which flows into the Rhine River and eventually reaches the North Sea. The advanced treatment helps protect the fragile Alpine aquatic ecosystem, which supports diverse species such as brown trout and the European bullhead. The plant's operation is crucial for maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local streams that feed the Sarine River, part of the Rhine basin, which flows through Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands to the North Sea. The receiving waters are in a mountainous region with high ecological sensitivity, supporting cold-water fish species and diverse macroinvertebrate communities. Advanced treatment ensures minimal nutrient and pollutant loading, preserving the natural oligotrophic conditions of Alpine streams.
Frequently asked questions
The ROUGEMONT plant is located in the village of Rougemont, in the District de la Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut, canton of Vaud, Switzerland.
The plant serves a population of approximately 973 residents, typical of a small Alpine community.
The plant uses advanced treatment processes, which provide a higher level of purification than secondary treatment, ensuring high-quality effluent for discharge into sensitive mountain streams.
The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Sarine River, a tributary of the Aare River, which is part of the Rhine basin. This ultimately drains into the North Sea.
Switzerland enforces strict water protection laws under the Waters Protection Act. For small agglomerations like Rougemont, advanced treatment is often required in sensitive Alpine areas to protect aquatic ecosystems and drinking water sources.
Nearby plants