Overview
BESSAN wastewater treatment plant serves the commune of Bessan in Occitanie, France. It is located near the Mediterranean coast and serves a population of approximately 7,900.
The BESSAN wastewater treatment plant is located in Bessan, a commune in the Hérault department of Occitanie, southern France. The plant serves a population of about 7,900 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under French and EU regulations. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating a modest scale appropriate for the community. The plant is situated within 50 km of the Mediterranean coast, and its treated effluent likely discharges into local watercourses that flow into the Thau lagoon or directly into the Mediterranean Sea. This coastal proximity means the plant plays a key role in protecting the region's marine and lagoon ecosystems from nutrient pollution.
Environmental context
The BESSAN plant is located in the Hérault watershed, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Thau lagoon and coastal rivers. The Thau lagoon is a productive shellfish farming area and an ecologically sensitive coastal lagoon that supports diverse aquatic life, including seagrass beds and migratory fish. The plant's discharge must meet stringent nutrient removal standards to prevent eutrophication in these vulnerable coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
The BESSAN plant is located at D 137, Bessan, in the Hérault department of Occitanie, southern France.
The plant serves approximately 7,900 residents, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant likely discharges into local watercourses that flow toward the Thau lagoon or directly into the Mediterranean Sea, given its proximity to the coast.
As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent are typically required to have secondary treatment, especially if discharging into sensitive coastal areas.
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