STEP MONTFAUCON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Montfaucon, Jura, Switzerland

STEP MONTFAUCON is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Montfaucon, in the Jura canton of Switzerland. It serves a small population of 818 residents, reflecting the rural character of the Franches-Montagnes district. The plant is situated at an elevation in the Jura Mountains, a region known for its limestone geology and pastoral landscapes. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required under Swiss water protection legislation. Swiss regulations, aligned with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, mandate secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 1367.00 m³/day and currently discharges 371.31 m³/day, indicating operational capacity well below its design limit. The treated effluent from STEP MONTFAUCON is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Doubs River, a major tributary of the Saône, which ultimately flows into the Rhône River and the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the sensitive karstic groundwater systems and surface waters of the Jura region, which support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional biodiversity.

The plant's discharge enters small streams in the Franches-Montagnes region, which flow into the Doubs River. The Doubs forms part of the border with France and eventually joins the Saône, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Rhône drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The Jura region features karstic aquifers and ecologically sensitive wetlands, making proper wastewater treatment essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect downstream habitats.