Charleval Wastewater Treatment Plant - Secondary Treatment in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

The Charleval wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Charleval, within the Aix-en-Provence area of Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It serves a population of approximately 4,223 residents and operates as a secondary treatment facility, which is the standard for small agglomerations under French and EU regulations. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average volume of 753.38 cubic meters per day. As a facility serving fewer than 10,000 people, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) requirements for secondary treatment, ensuring compliance with European standards for organic matter and suspended solids removal. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Durance River and the Rhône River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting aquatic life in the downstream rivers and contributing to the ecological health of the Camargue delta and coastal areas.

The plant discharges into the Durance River watershed, a major tributary of the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The downstream environment includes ecologically sensitive areas such as the Camargue, a vast wetland delta that supports diverse bird species and aquatic habitats. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting these downstream ecosystems from eutrophication.