Overview
ARETTE 2 LA PIERRE ST MARTIN is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Arette, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, serving 1,400 people with a designed capacity of 3,500 m³/day.
ARETTE 2 LA PIERRE ST MARTIN is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in the commune of Arette, within the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,400 residents and has a designed capacity of 3,500 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of about 250 m³/day. The plant operates under France's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for agglomerations of this size. As an advanced treatment facility, it provides a higher level of pollutant removal beyond secondary treatment, likely including nutrient reduction to protect sensitive receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Gave d'Oloron river system, a tributary of the Adour River, which flows into the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's location in the Pyrenean foothills means it plays a key role in protecting mountain streams and downstream aquatic ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Gave d'Oloron watershed, which flows through the Pyrenees into the Adour River and then into the Bay of Biscay. This region supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and trout. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects water quality in these sensitive mountain streams.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Impasse de Lamayou in Arette, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
The plant serves approximately 1,400 residents in the commune of Arette and surrounding areas.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove additional pollutants such as nutrients, ensuring high-quality effluent.
Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000 typically require secondary treatment. For smaller plants like this one, member states may set specific requirements; the advanced treatment here likely reflects local environmental sensitivity.
The plant has a designed capacity of 3,500 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of about 250 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity.
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