Overview
CUGES LES PINS wastewater treatment plant in Cuges-les-Pins, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, provides secondary treatment for a population of 3,575. It discharges treated wastewater near the Mediterranean coast.
CUGES LES PINS is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cuges-les-Pins, a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,575 and operates with secondary treatment, which is standard for smaller agglomerations under French regulations. Its designed capacity is 3,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 637.77 cubic meters per day. As a facility in France, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive aims to protect water quality across Europe, and French authorities enforce compliance through permits and monitoring. The plant's treatment process meets these regulatory standards. The plant is situated within 10 km of the Mediterranean coast, making its discharge environmentally significant. Treated effluent likely flows into local watercourses that drain into the Mediterranean Sea, affecting coastal water quality and marine ecosystems. The region's karst geology and seasonal tourism add complexity to water management, emphasizing the need for effective treatment to protect bathing waters and marine life.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local watercourses that ultimately reach the Mediterranean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange and high ecological sensitivity. The coastal waters near Cuges-les-Pins support diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries, which are vulnerable to nutrient pollution. Effective secondary treatment helps reduce the risk of eutrophication and maintains water quality for recreational use.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Chemin de la Roque, Sainte-Catherine, Cuges-les-Pins, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
The plant serves a population of approximately 3,575 people in the Cuges-les-Pins area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that flow toward the Mediterranean Sea, which is less than 10 km away.
As a French plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
For small agglomerations (under 10,000 population equivalent), secondary treatment is standard under the EU directive, often using biological processes like activated sludge or biofilters.
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