Overview
Ales wastewater treatment plant serves 63,000 people in Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas, Occitanie, France. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Ales wastewater treatment plant is located in Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas, a commune in the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France. It serves a population of 63,000, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a French facility, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 10,000 and 150,000. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with discharge standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Gardon River and then the Rhône River, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Gardon River's water quality, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and irrigation.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Gardon River, a tributary of the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Gardon River supports a variety of fish species and is part of a region known for its karst landscapes and gorges. The downstream Rhône delta is an ecologically sensitive area with extensive wetlands and bird habitats. Effective wastewater treatment is crucial to prevent nutrient pollution and protect these downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The Ales wastewater treatment plant is located in Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas, a commune in the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France. The address is Chemin de la Lègue, Tribies, Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas.
The plant serves a population of 63,000 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Gardon River, a tributary of the Rhône River, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 10,000 and 150,000.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to have at least secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated to reduce nutrient pollution.
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