CHATELAILLON PLAGE pole sud Wastewater Treatment Plant, Châtelaillon-Plage, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

CHATELAILLON PLAGE pole sud is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Châtelaillon-Plage, a coastal town in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The plant serves a population of around 21,372 residents and is situated near the Atlantic coast, within the urban area of La Rochelle. As a facility in a coastal zone, it plays a key role in protecting local marine and coastal water quality. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 10,000 and 150,000 are typically required to provide secondary treatment, with more stringent tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive areas. Given its coastal proximity and population served, the plant is expected to meet at least secondary treatment standards to reduce organic pollution and nutrients before discharge. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into the Atlantic Ocean via local coastal waters, contributing to the protection of the Pertuis d'Antioche and the broader Bay of Biscay ecosystem. The area supports diverse marine life and is important for tourism and fisheries, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality and ecological health.

The plant is located in the coastal watershed of the Atlantic Ocean, with treated effluent likely discharging into the Pertuis d'Antioche, a marine strait between the Île de Ré and the mainland. This area is part of the Bay of Biscay, which supports diverse marine habitats including seagrass beds and nursery grounds for fish. The coastal environment is ecologically sensitive, and nutrient inputs from wastewater must be carefully managed to prevent eutrophication and protect water quality for recreational use and marine biodiversity.