VAUMARCUS Wastewater Treatment Plant, La Grande-Béroche, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

The VAUMARCUS wastewater treatment plant is located in La Grande-Béroche, within the canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It serves a small population of 258 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or peri-urban setting. The plant is situated near the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, the largest lake entirely within Switzerland. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by Swiss regulations for smaller agglomerations. Switzerland's Water Protection Act mandates stringent treatment for discharges into sensitive water bodies, and advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal to protect lake ecosystems. The plant has a designed capacity of 700 m³/day and currently discharges 117.11 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. Treated effluent from the plant likely discharges into a local watercourse that flows into Lake Neuchâtel, which is part of the Rhine basin via the Aare River. The lake supports diverse aquatic life and is a key recreational and ecological resource. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, reducing the risk of eutrophication in this sensitive lacustrine environment.

The plant discharges into the Lake Neuchâtel watershed, which drains via the Thielle Canal into the Aare River and ultimately the Rhine. Lake Neuchâtel is a large, deep lake that supports diverse fish populations and is an important stopover for migratory birds. Advanced treatment at this plant helps control phosphorus and nitrogen inputs, protecting the lake from algal blooms and maintaining water quality for downstream ecosystems.