Overview
ASCAIN wastewater treatment plant serves Ascain, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, with a population equivalent of 10,450. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The ASCAIN wastewater treatment plant is located in Ascain, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The plant serves a population equivalent of 10,450, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location near the Nivelle River and the Bay of Biscay places it in a sensitive coastal environment. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent discharging into freshwater, and more stringent treatment for larger discharges into sensitive areas. Given the plant's proximity to the coast, it likely adheres to additional national regulations for coastal water protection. The treated effluent from ASCAIN ultimately discharges into the Nivelle River, which flows into the Bay of Biscay near Saint-Jean-de-Luz. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries and tourism. The plant's role in treating wastewater helps protect the ecological quality of the river and the adjacent coastal waters from nutrient pollution and pathogens.
Environmental context
The ASCAIN plant discharges into the Nivelle River, a coastal stream that flows into the Bay of Biscay in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. The river supports a variety of aquatic species and its estuary provides critical habitat for migratory fish such as salmon and eels. The coastal waters are part of the broader marine ecosystem of the Bay of Biscay, which is known for its rich biodiversity and commercial fisheries. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in this sensitive coastal environment.
Frequently asked questions
The ASCAIN plant is located in Ascain, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France, near the Nivelle River and the Bay of Biscay.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 10,450, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent from ASCAIN is discharged into the Nivelle River, which flows into the Bay of Biscay near Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size, with additional requirements for discharges into sensitive coastal areas.
In France, plants serving 10,000 PE typically provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum, with tertiary treatment required if discharging into sensitive areas such as coastal zones or nutrient-sensitive catchments.
Nearby plants