LANGOIRAN Wastewater Treatment Plant, Le Tourne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The LANGOIRAN wastewater treatment plant is located in Bagatelle, Le Tourne, within the Gironde department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It serves a population of approximately 1,627 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Garonne River, which flows through the Bordeaux wine region before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The facility 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. The plant's designed capacity is 2,000 m³/day, and it discharges an average volume of 290.25 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Garonne River and then the Gironde estuary, a major ecological corridor in southwestern France. The estuary supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eels. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality in the estuary and the Bay of Biscay.

The plant discharges into the Garonne River basin, which flows through the Gironde estuary into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The estuary is a critical habitat for migratory fish and supports a rich ecosystem of benthic invertebrates and birdlife. Advanced treatment at this plant helps mitigate eutrophication risks in the estuary, which is sensitive to nutrient inputs from agricultural and urban sources in the region.