Le Bugue Wastewater Treatment Plant - Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

The Le Bugue wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Le Bugue, within the Dordogne department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It serves a population of approximately 2,710 residents, providing secondary treatment to manage municipal wastewater. The plant's designed capacity is 4,750 cubic meters per day, with an average daily discharge volume of 483.46 cubic meters. As a secondary treatment facility, Le Bugue meets the standard requirements under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary biological treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant operates within France's national regulatory framework, overseen by local water agencies, ensuring compliance with discharge standards to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watercourse, which flows into the Dordogne River, a major river in southwestern France. The Dordogne River ultimately reaches the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in preserving the ecological health of the Dordogne basin, which supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity and water resources.

The Le Bugue plant discharges into a tributary of the Dordogne River, which flows through the Périgord region and joins the Garonne to form the Gironde estuary, the largest estuary in Europe. The Dordogne basin is ecologically sensitive, supporting species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.