Overview
ESPERAZA wastewater treatment plant serves Espéraza in Occitanie, France. It treats wastewater for approximately 7,131 people under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The ESPERAZA wastewater treatment plant is located in Espéraza, a commune in the Aude department of the Occitanie region in southern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 7,131 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated in the Haute Vallée region, near the Route d'Espagne industrial zone. As a French wastewater treatment facility, ESPERAZA operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater. The directive also mandates appropriate treatment to meet quality standards for the receiving environment. The plant is expected to comply with national regulations transposing the directive. The treated effluent from ESPERAZA is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Aude River. The Aude River flows through the region and eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the water quality of the Aude River and its downstream ecosystems, including the coastal lagoons and marine environment of the Gulf of Lion.
Environmental context
The ESPERAZA plant discharges into the Aude River basin, which flows through the Occitanie region before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Aude River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and tourism. Downstream, the river influences the sensitive coastal lagoons of the Narbonnaise region, which are ecologically significant for migratory birds and fish species. Protecting water quality in this watershed is essential for maintaining the health of both freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The ESPERAZA plant is located in Espéraza, a commune in the Aude department of the Occitanie region in southern France. It is situated near the Route d'Espagne industrial zone.
The plant serves approximately 7,131 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent from ESPERAZA is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Aude River. The Aude River flows to the Mediterranean Sea.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater. French national regulations implement this directive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving 2,000 to 10,000 population equivalent (PE) discharging into freshwater are required to have secondary treatment. Many French plants of this scale also incorporate nutrient removal to protect sensitive water bodies.
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