CODOGNAN Wastewater Treatment Plant, Aigues-Vives, Occitanie

The CODOGNAN wastewater treatment plant is located in Aigues-Vives, within the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France. It serves a population equivalent of 9,590, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under French and EU regulations. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this scale are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum. In sensitive areas, such as those draining into nutrient-sensitive water bodies, tertiary treatment may be mandated. It is expected to comply with French national standards derived from the directive. The plant discharges into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Mediterranean Sea via the Rhône River basin or smaller coastal rivers. The region's aquatic ecosystems include wetlands and coastal lagoons that support diverse bird and fish species. Proper treatment is essential to prevent eutrophication and protect downstream ecological health.

The CODOGNAN plant is located inland in the Gard department, part of the Rhône River basin. Treated effluent likely flows into the Vidourle or a similar coastal river, eventually reaching the Mediterranean Sea near the Gulf of Lion. This area features sensitive coastal lagoons and wetlands that are important for migratory birds and aquatic biodiversity. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to eutrophication in these shallow, productive waters, making effective treatment critical.