Iles De Crépieux Charmy, Water catchment and protected area in Rillieux-la-Pape, France.
Iles De Crépieux Charmy is a protected water catchment area formed by two islands between the Miribel and Jonage canals and the Old Rhone, spreading across around 375 hectares. The site functions as a critical water filtration and storage system that supplies the Lyon metropolitan region.
The area was designated as a water protection zone in 1993 and received formal biotope protection status through a prefectural decree in January 2006. These designations transformed it into one of Europe's major freshwater supply and conservation systems.
The water catchment facility remains a central component of Lyon's metropolitan infrastructure, supplying drinking water to the surrounding communities.
Access to the area is restricted and requires special authorization due to strict regulations protecting water quality and ecosystem health. Visitors can explore the site through organized guided visits rather than independent wandering.
The site represents one of Europe's largest continuous water filtration fields, featuring an intricate network of canals that work together with natural processes to purify water. This natural filtering approach allows the system to supply millions of cubic meters of drinking water annually to surrounding communities.
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