Overview
GENOS LOURON is a wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 7,000 people in Armenteule, Occitanie, France. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
GENOS LOURON is a wastewater treatment plant located in Armenteule, a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of the Occitanie region in southwestern France. The plant serves a population of around 7,000, placing it within the category of small to medium agglomerations under EU regulations. As a French facility, GENOS LOURON is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater. The directive ensures that appropriate treatment standards are met to protect water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Garonne River basin and then into the Atlantic Ocean via the Gironde estuary. The surrounding area is mountainous, part of the Pyrenees, and the plant plays a key role in preserving the ecological health of local streams and rivers that support diverse aquatic life.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent flows into the Neste d'Aure river, a tributary of the Garonne River. The Garonne basin is a major hydrological system in southwestern France, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and agricultural water use. Downstream, the Garonne meets the Dordogne to form the Gironde estuary, a critical habitat for migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The plant's location in the Pyrenees foothills means it must manage sensitive mountain streams that are vulnerable to pollution.
Frequently asked questions
GENOS LOURON is located in Armenteule, a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of the Occitanie region in southwestern France.
The plant serves approximately 7,000 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which flows into the Neste d'Aure river, a tributary of the Garonne River, ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
As a French plant serving around 7,000 people, GENOS LOURON is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent in freshwater areas are typically required to provide secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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