Overview
Cournonterral wastewater treatment plant serves the commune of Cournonterral in Occitanie, France. It is located near Montpellier and within 50 km of the Mediterranean coast.
The Cournonterral wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility serving the commune of Cournonterral in the Hérault department of Occitanie, southern France. With a population equivalent of approximately 7,000, it is classified as a small to medium agglomeration under French regulations. The plant is situated near Montpellier and lies within 50 km of the Mediterranean coastline. As a French wastewater treatment facility, Cournonterral operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into French law. For agglomerations of this size, the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or population equivalent), indicating it is sized to handle the local load. Operational details and specific treatment processes are managed by the municipal or inter-municipal authority. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Hérault River or its tributaries. The receiving water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are part of the region's sensitive coastal ecosystems. Proper treatment is essential to protect the water quality of the Mediterranean, which is a major tourist and ecological resource.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge flows into the Hérault River basin, which drains into the Gulf of Lion in the Mediterranean Sea. This coastal region supports seagrass meadows and marine biodiversity, making nutrient and pollutant control critical. The Mediterranean is a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, so wastewater inputs can impact local water quality and ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Chemin des Passes, Cournonterral, in the Hérault department of Occitanie, France, near Montpellier.
The plant serves approximately 7,000 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU and French regulations.
Treated effluent is discharged into the local water network, which flows into the Hérault River basin and ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into French law, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
For agglomerations of 7,000 population equivalent, French regulations require secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum, with tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
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