Overview
BELLEGARDE Gard is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Bellegarde, Occitanie, France, serving approximately 5,073 people with a designed capacity of 8,000 m³/day.
BELLEGARDE Gard is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Bellegarde, within the Gard department of Occitanie, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,073 people and has a designed capacity of 8,000 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 905.01 m³/day. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates under French and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size (5,000-10,000 population equivalent) are required to provide secondary treatment, but the plant's advanced level indicates compliance with stricter standards for sensitive areas or local environmental requirements. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River basin. The Rhône is a major European river that flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and supports the ecological health of the Rhône delta and coastal marine environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Rhône River basin, which flows through southeastern France into the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône delta and Camargue region are ecologically sensitive areas that support diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish and waterbirds. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and the coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
BELLEGARDE Gard is located in Bellegarde, in the Gard department of Occitanie, France, near the ViaRhôna cycling route.
The plant serves approximately 5,073 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Rhône River basin and ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment, in line with EU standards for sensitive areas.
Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations of 5,000-10,000 population equivalent require secondary treatment. BELLEGARDE Gard's advanced treatment exceeds this, likely due to local environmental requirements for the Rhône basin.
Nearby plants