Biscarrosse Plage Wastewater Treatment Plant - Coastal France Facility

The Biscarrosse Plage wastewater treatment plant is located in the coastal town of Biscarrosse, within the Landes department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It serves a population of around 16,700 people, primarily from the Biscarrosse-Plage area, a popular Atlantic coast resort. The plant is situated near the Dune du Pilat and the Arcachon Bay region, an ecologically sensitive area. As a French wastewater facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment for discharges into coastal waters, with more stringent tertiary treatment if the receiving area is designated as sensitive. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating it is sized for seasonal population fluctuations common in tourist areas. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Arcachon Bay or directly to the coast. The Arcachon Bay is a major shellfish-producing area and a vital habitat for migratory birds. The plant's performance is critical to maintaining water quality in this sensitive coastal ecosystem, supporting both tourism and marine biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the coastal waters of the Bay of Biscay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. The receiving environment includes the Arcachon Bay, a semi-enclosed marine basin known for oyster farming and as a nursery for fish. The area supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. Maintaining low nutrient and pathogen levels in the effluent is essential to protect these ecological functions.