Overview
Castanet-Tolosan wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 24,400 residents in Occitanie, France. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Castanet-Tolosan wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Castanet-Tolosan, within the Toulouse metropolitan area in the Occitanie region of southern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 24,399 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a plant serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalents, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary biological treatment as a minimum standard. The plant's discharge must comply with French national regulations derived from this directive, ensuring treated effluent meets quality standards for organic matter and suspended solids before release into the local water environment. The treated wastewater from this facility is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Garonne River via the Hers-Mort or other tributaries. The Garonne flows through Toulouse and continues to the Gironde estuary on the Atlantic coast. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of these downstream water bodies, supporting aquatic ecosystems and recreational uses.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Garonne River basin, which drains a large portion of southwestern France before reaching the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The Garonne supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain water quality in this ecologically important river system.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at the Complexe Sportif du Lautard, Impasse Paul Riquet, in Castanet-Tolosan, a commune in the Haute-Garonne department of the Occitanie region, southern France.
The plant serves approximately 24,399 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water network, which flows into the Garonne River basin. The Garonne ultimately reaches the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 10,000 and 100,000. French national regulations implement this directive.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalents must provide secondary biological treatment, which typically involves activated sludge or similar processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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