Overview
Hourtin wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 19,907 people in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It is located near the Atlantic coast and operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive standards.
The Hourtin wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility serving the town of Hourtin in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. Situated near the Atlantic coast in the Médoc peninsula, the plant handles wastewater from a population of around 19,907 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving area is designated as sensitive. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating it is sized to handle the local population's wastewater. The plant's treated effluent ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean via local waterways. The Médoc region is known for its lakes and coastal wetlands, including the nearby Étang de Hourtin-Carcans, the largest natural lake in France. The area supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological zone. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to protect these sensitive coastal and lake ecosystems from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.
Environmental context
The Hourtin plant discharges into a watershed that drains to the Atlantic Ocean via the Étang de Hourtin-Carcans, France's largest natural lake. This lake is connected to the ocean through the Courant de Contaut channel. The area supports diverse aquatic life, including fish and bird species, and is an important ecological zone. Effective treatment helps prevent eutrophication and protects the coastal marine environment.
Frequently asked questions
The Hourtin wastewater treatment plant is located in Hourtin, a commune in the Gironde department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. It lies near the Atlantic coast on the Médoc peninsula.
The plant serves approximately 19,907 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Étang de Hourtin-Carcans and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the Courant de Contaut channel.
As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent typically require secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive areas.
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