Overview
LA SAULCE INTERCOMMUNALE is a secondary wastewater treatment plant in La Saulce, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, serving 1,545 people with a designed capacity of 2,250 m³/day.
LA SAULCE INTERCOMMUNALE is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in La Saulce, a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, southeastern France. The plant serves a population of 1,545 and is situated along the D 1085 road near Gap. It operates as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure, treating domestic sewage from the local community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. With a designed capacity of 2,250 m³/day, the facility is sized to handle the current load and accommodate modest growth. The actual discharge volume is reported at 275.63 m³/day, indicating a utilization rate well below capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Durance River flows southwest through the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region before joining the Rhône near Avignon. The Rhône then empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's operations help protect the Durance River and downstream ecosystems from untreated sewage pollution.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Durance River, which flows through the Southern French Alps and is a key water source for agriculture and hydroelectric power. The Durance joins the Rhône River, which enters the Mediterranean Sea via the Camargue delta. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species. The region's Mediterranean climate with seasonal rainfall can affect river flow, making consistent treatment important for water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at D 1085, La Saulce, in the Hautes-Alpes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, southeastern France, near the city of Gap.
The plant serves a population of 1,545 people, making it a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that flows into the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône, which ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of its size, ensuring biological removal of organic matter.
The plant operates under the French transposition of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent over 2,000. Compliance is monitored by the local water agency and prefectural authorities.
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