STEP LES BREULEUX Wastewater Treatment Plant, Les Breuleux, Jura, Switzerland

STEP LES BREULEUX is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Les Breuleux, in the Jura canton of Switzerland. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,716 people and operates under Swiss water protection regulations, which require stringent treatment standards for all discharges into sensitive water bodies. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small agglomerations in Switzerland. With a designed capacity of 2,867 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 779 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment of wastewater from the local community. Treated effluent from STEP LES BREULEUX is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhine River basin via the Birs River. The Franches-Montagnes region is characterized by karstic geology and sensitive groundwater systems, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the local watershed within the Franches-Montagnes district, which is part of the Rhine River basin. The receiving waters eventually flow into the Birs River and then the Rhine, supporting diverse aquatic life. The region's karstic geology makes groundwater particularly vulnerable to contamination, emphasizing the importance of effective secondary treatment.