Overview
BAILLARGUES ST BRES wastewater treatment plant serves Baillargues, Occitanie, France. It treats wastewater for approximately 11,700 people and is located near the Mediterranean coast.
BAILLARGUES ST BRES is a wastewater treatment plant located in Baillargues, a commune in the Hérault department of Occitanie, southern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 11,700, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category under French and EU regulations. It is situated near Montpellier, a major urban center in the region. As a French plant serving a population between 10,000 and 100,000, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. French wastewater facilities are typically managed by municipal authorities or regional water agencies, with oversight from the Agence de l'Eau Rhône-Méditerranée-Corse. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Lez or Vidourle river systems. This coastal region supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to its proximity to the Mediterranean. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality and marine ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant is located within 50 km of the Mediterranean coast, in the watershed of the Lez and Vidourle rivers. Treated effluent flows through these rivers into the Mediterranean Sea, which supports important marine biodiversity including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries. The region's karstic geology and seasonal rainfall patterns make water resource management critical for both ecological health and human use.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Baillargues, a commune in the Hérault department of Occitanie, southern France, near Montpellier.
The plant serves approximately 11,700 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, likely into the Lez or Vidourle river systems, which flow into the Mediterranean Sea.
As a French plant serving over 10,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for such agglomerations.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalent are required to have at least secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
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