Cucuron Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cucuron, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

The Cucuron wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Cucuron, within the Vaucluse department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It serves a population of approximately 2,100 residents, typical for a small rural agglomeration in this region. The plant is situated at Chemin de La Ferrage, near the Luberon Natural Regional Park. As a secondary treatment facility, Cucuron provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,700 m³ per day and currently discharges an average of 374.64 m³ per day, indicating ample reserve capacity. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size (2,000-10,000 population equivalent) are required to have secondary treatment, which Cucuron meets. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain toward the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Durance flows into the Rhône near Avignon, which then empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's operation helps protect the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Luberon region, including streams that support diverse freshwater life and contribute to the ecological health of the Rhône basin.

The Cucuron plant discharges into local streams that feed the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Durance flows through Provence into the Rhône delta, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats, including fish species such as the European eel and various migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollution and nutrient loads, helping to maintain water quality in the ecologically sensitive Luberon area.