LA CANOURGUE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Banassac-Canilhac, Occitanie

LA CANOURGUE is a wastewater treatment plant located in Banassac-Canilhac, within the Occitanie region of southern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,318 and has a designed capacity of 8,200 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 413.53 m³/day. It is situated in the Lot River valley, an inland area far from the coast. 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 water bodies. As a French facility, it operates under national regulations transposing the directive, with permits issued by the local water agency. The treated effluent is discharged into the Lot River, a major tributary of the Garonne, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean via the Gironde estuary. The Lot River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Massif Central region. The plant's advanced treatment helps maintain water quality in this sensitive watershed.

The plant discharges into the Lot River, which flows into the Garonne River and ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the Gironde estuary. The Lot River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as salmon and trout. The advanced treatment at LA CANOURGUE helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.