Overview
CUGNAUX wastewater treatment plant serves Villeneuve-Tolosane in Occitanie, France, with a population equivalent of 54,234. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The CUGNAUX wastewater treatment plant is located in Villeneuve-Tolosane, a commune in the Haute-Garonne department of Occitanie, southern France. It serves a population equivalent of 54,234, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the Toulouse metropolitan area. As a French facility, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. French regulations transpose this directive through the Code de l'Environnement, and plants are typically operated by public or private entities under permits issued by the local prefecture. The treatment process likely includes biological treatment to meet effluent standards. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Garonne River via the Touch or other tributaries. The Garonne flows into the Gironde estuary and then the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Garonne basin, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for irrigation and recreation.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Garonne River basin, which flows through southwestern France to the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The Garonne supports a variety of fish species, including Atlantic salmon and sturgeon, and its waters are used for agriculture and drinking water. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and pollutants entering this ecologically important river system.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 35 Rue Ecopole, Lou Verdai, Villeneuve-Tolosane, Haute-Garonne, Occitanie, France, near Toulouse.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 54,234, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification.
Treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Garonne River basin and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the Gironde estuary.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into French law, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent.
Under the EU directive, plants serving over 15,000 PE in sensitive areas require tertiary treatment. For standard areas, secondary treatment (biological) is typical. French plants often include nutrient removal to protect water bodies.
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