Bassin 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Damase, Québec

Bassin 1 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Saint-Damase, a small community in the La Matapédia region of Québec, Canada. The plant serves a population of 269 and operates under secondary treatment standards, reflecting its role in managing local wastewater for this rural area. As a secondary treatment facility, Bassin 1 provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant discharges 121.00 m³/day of treated effluent. In Canada, wastewater treatment is regulated under provincial and federal frameworks, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and Québec's Regulation respecting municipal wastewater treatment works, which set effluent quality standards for plants of this scale. The treated effluent from Bassin 1 ultimately reaches the Saint Lawrence River system via local waterways, contributing to the broader Gulf of Saint Lawrence watershed. The coastal proximity (within 10 km) means the discharge area supports diverse aquatic life and is part of an ecologically sensitive estuarine environment.

Bassin 1 discharges into local streams that flow into the Matapédia River, a tributary of the Restigouche River, which empties into the Baie des Chaleurs and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. This coastal watershed supports Atlantic salmon and other migratory fish species, making water quality management critical for downstream ecosystems.