GIGNAC bourg Wastewater Treatment Plant - Saint-André-de-Sangonis, Occitanie

GIGNAC bourg is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Saint-André-de-Sangonis, within the Hérault department of Occitanie, southern France. The facility serves a population equivalent of 5,500, placing it in the small agglomeration category 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. Its designed capacity is 8,165 m³/day, and current discharge volume is approximately 981 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Hérault River and then the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting both ecological health and downstream uses such as agriculture and recreation.

The plant discharges into the Hérault River basin, which flows southward to the Mediterranean Sea near Agde. This coastal watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the sensitive coastal lagoon ecosystems along the Languedoc coastline.