Overview
COEX Mouille Bec is a secondary wastewater treatment plant in Coëx, Pays de la Loire, France, serving 2,300 people. It discharges 410.32 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 4,350 m³/day.
COEX Mouille Bec is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Coëx, within the Vendée department of the Pays de la Loire region in western France. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,300 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU UWWTD for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,350 m³/day and an average daily flow of 410.32 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. Situated less than 10 km from the Atlantic coast, the plant's treated effluent ultimately drains into the Bay of Biscay via local rivers and coastal waters. The receiving environment supports diverse marine life and is part of a region known for its shellfish farming and tourism, making effective wastewater treatment critical for protecting water quality and coastal ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local watercourses that flow into the Atlantic Ocean via the Bay of Biscay. The coastal zone is ecologically sensitive, supporting shellfish beds, migratory fish, and seabird populations. Secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, safeguarding the marine environment from eutrophication and maintaining water quality for recreational and economic uses.
Frequently asked questions
COEX Mouille Bec is located at La Grondinière, in the commune of Coëx, within the Vendée department of the Pays de la Loire region in western France.
The plant serves approximately 2,300 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that flow toward the Atlantic coast, ultimately reaching the Bay of Biscay. The discharge is regulated under French and EU water quality standards.
COEX Mouille Bec provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of its size.
Under the EU UWWTD, small agglomerations (under 10,000 population equivalent) discharging to freshwater must provide secondary treatment. COEX Mouille Bec, serving 2,300 people, complies with this requirement, helping to protect the coastal environment of the Bay of Biscay.
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