Overview
GUETHARY wastewater treatment plant serves Guéthary, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It is located near the coast and serves a population of approximately 11,033.
The GUETHARY wastewater treatment plant is located in Guéthary, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The plant serves a population of about 11,033, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under French regulations. As part of France's commitment to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants of this scale are required to provide secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment mandated if discharging into sensitive areas. However, the plant's designed capacity is reported as 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per day or similar units). Under the EU directive, agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 10,000 and 150,000 must achieve secondary treatment standards, which typically involve biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 50 km) suggests that treated effluent may discharge into a coastal water body or a river flowing into the Bay of Biscay. The receiving water body is not explicitly named, but the region's rivers, such as the Nivelle or the Adour, drain into the Atlantic Ocean. This coastal environment supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries and tourism. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality and ecosystems in the Bay of Biscay.
Environmental context
The GUETHARY plant is situated near the Bay of Biscay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. The local watershed includes small coastal rivers that drain from the Pyrenees foothills into the sea. This area supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species and marine habitats. Discharge into coastal waters requires careful management to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect bathing waters, which are vital for the region's tourism economy.
Frequently asked questions
The GUETHARY plant is located at Chemin de Cenitz, Lapurdi, Guéthary, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
The plant serves a population of approximately 11,033, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under French and EU regulations.
The plant is located within 50 km of the coast, so treated effluent likely discharges into a river or directly into the Bay of Biscay, following French and EU standards for coastal discharge.
As a French plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive areas.
Under the EU directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids.
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