FOURAS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fouras, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

The FOURAS wastewater treatment plant is located in Fouras, a coastal town in the Charente-Maritime department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 11,368 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU standards. Its location near the Atlantic coast places it in a sensitive environmental zone. As a French plant, FOURAS operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating it is sized to handle the local population's wastewater flow. Treatment processes and operational status are managed by the local municipality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean via the Pertuis d'Antioche, a strait between the Île d'Oléron and the mainland. This coastal area supports diverse marine life, including shellfish beds and migratory fish. The plant's proximity to the coast necessitates careful management to protect water quality and marine ecosystems.

The FOURAS plant discharges into the Pertuis d'Antioche, a coastal strait connecting to the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean. This area is ecologically sensitive, supporting shellfish aquaculture and diverse marine habitats. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its effluent must meet stringent standards to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect coastal water quality.