ARGENTAT Wastewater Treatment Plant, Monceaux-sur-Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

ARGENTAT is a wastewater treatment plant located in Monceaux-sur-Dordogne, within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The facility serves a population of 3,000 and is situated near the Dordogne River, a major watercourse in southwestern France. The plant operates under French regulations that transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU directive for agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 12,000 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 535.19 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The advanced treatment level ensures high-quality effluent suitable for discharge into sensitive environments. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Dordogne River. The Dordogne flows westward through the Aquitaine region and into the Gironde estuary, a major ecological area supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect this downstream ecosystem from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the Dordogne River basin, which flows into the Gironde estuary and then the Atlantic Ocean. The Dordogne is known for its rich biodiversity, including salmon and sturgeon populations. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads, protecting the river's ecological health and supporting downstream habitats.