GOURDON Bleou rehabilite Wastewater Treatment Plant, Gourdon, Occitanie

The GOURDON Bleou rehabilite wastewater treatment plant is located in Gourdon, a commune in the Lot department of the Occitanie region in southern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,100 people and has a designed capacity of 7,500 m³ per day, indicating it is sized to accommodate future growth or seasonal variations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant's current discharge volume is 374.64 m³/day, well below its design capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Dordogne River basin and then to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the region's rivers and supporting the ecological health of downstream environments, including the Dordogne's diverse aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into the Dordogne River basin, which flows westward through the Aquitaine region and into the Gironde estuary before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eels. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, which is critical for preventing eutrophication in downstream waters and maintaining the ecological balance of the estuary.