ASSAT INTERCOMMUNALE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Assat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

ASSAT INTERCOMMUNALE is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Assat, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 9,100, classifying it as a small to medium 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 of this size. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Gave de Pau river, a tributary of the Adour river. The Adour flows into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality.

The plant discharges into the Gave de Pau river, which flows into the Adour river before reaching the Bay of Biscay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as salmon and trout. The area is ecologically sensitive due to its proximity to the Pyrenees and the Atlantic coast, making effective wastewater treatment crucial for protecting water quality and biodiversity.