LA TOUR D AIGUES Wastewater Treatment Plant, La Tour-d'Aigues, France

The LA TOUR D AIGUES wastewater treatment plant is located in La Tour-d'Aigues, within the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Serving a population of approximately 3,000, this facility is part of the municipal infrastructure managed under French water regulations. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and contributes to the region's water quality management. Operating with secondary treatment, the plant processes wastewater to meet the standards required by the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), secondary treatment is the typical requirement. The plant has a designed capacity of 6,200 m³/day and a reported discharge volume of 535.19 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Durance River and the Rhône River. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in protecting the ecological health of the region's rivers and coastal waters. The facility helps maintain water quality in a region known for its agricultural landscapes and proximity to the Luberon Natural Regional Park.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that feeds the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. This water body supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and tourism. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollutants, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and maintaining water quality in the sensitive Mediterranean coastal zone.