Fourques Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fourques, Occitanie, France

The Fourques wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Fourques, within the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France. It serves a population of approximately 2,265 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,500 m³/day and an average daily discharge of 404 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment of municipal wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River delta and the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive coastal and wetland ecosystems of the Camargue region, a vital area for migratory birds and aquatic biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Rhône River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea via the Camargue delta. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. Advanced treatment at the plant helps reduce nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal zone.