STEP LE NOIRMONT Wastewater Treatment Plant, Le Noirmont, Jura, Switzerland

STEP LE NOIRMONT is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Le Noirmont, in the Jura canton of Switzerland. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,496 residents and is designed to handle a capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under Swiss water protection regulations, which align with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) through bilateral agreements. For small agglomerations like Le Noirmont, secondary treatment is the standard requirement to protect receiving water bodies. The plant's discharge volume of 679.07 m³/day indicates it operates well below its designed capacity, suggesting room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Doubs River basin, which flows through the Jura region and eventually into the Saône River and the Rhône. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality. The plant's inland location and secondary treatment level help mitigate environmental impact on the sensitive Jura ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Doubs River basin, a tributary of the Saône River, which flows into the Rhône River and ultimately the Mediterranean Sea. The Jura region features karstic geology, making groundwater particularly vulnerable to contamination. The secondary treatment process reduces organic load and nutrients, protecting downstream aquatic habitats and maintaining water quality for the diverse fish populations in the Doubs River.