DIAMANT CHERRY Wastewater Treatment Plant, Le Diamant, Martinique

DIAMANT CHERRY is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Le Diamant, a coastal town on the Caribbean island of Martinique, an overseas department of France. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,070 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under EU classification. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into coastal waters. Its designed capacity is 3,000 m³/day, and the reported discharge volume is 726.08 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. As a French overseas territory, the plant operates under French regulations transposing EU directives, with oversight from local water authorities. The treated effluent is discharged into the Caribbean Sea, a sensitive marine environment that supports coral reefs, seagrass beds, and diverse marine life. The plant's coastal location necessitates careful management to protect bathing waters and ecosystems. The surrounding watershed drains volcanic terrain, and the area is known for its tourist beaches and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Caribbean Sea near Le Diamant, a coastal area with fringing coral reefs and seagrass meadows that support fish, sea turtles, and other marine species. The local watershed is small and steep, typical of volcanic islands, with rapid runoff during rains. Downstream, the effluent enters a marine environment that is part of the wider Caribbean basin, which is ecologically sensitive due to its high biodiversity and reliance on clean water for tourism and fisheries.