Overview
LESCAR wastewater treatment plant serves Artiguelouve and the Pau area in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It handles a population equivalent of over 133,000, operating under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
LESCAR is a wastewater treatment plant located in Artiguelouve, near Pau in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The facility serves a population equivalent of approximately 133,442, placing it in the large agglomeration category under EU regulations. Its location along the Gave de Pau river system positions it as a key infrastructure for the region's water management. As a large agglomeration within the European Union, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum and tertiary treatment when discharging into sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these standards, ensuring compliance with French and EU regulations for water quality. The treated effluent from LESCAR is discharged into the Gave de Pau river, which flows into the Adour river and eventually reaches the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the aquatic ecosystems of the Gave de Pau and the downstream Adour basin, supporting biodiversity and water quality for both human use and wildlife.
Environmental context
The LESCAR plant discharges into the Gave de Pau river, a tributary of the Adour river, which flows into the Bay of Biscay. The Gave de Pau supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species such as salmon and eels. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system, which also provides drinking water and recreational opportunities for local communities.
Frequently asked questions
The LESCAR plant is located in Artiguelouve, near Pau, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 133,442, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent from the LESCAR plant is discharged into the Gave de Pau river, which flows into the Adour river and eventually reaches the Bay of Biscay.
As a French facility serving over 100,000 people, the LESCAR plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment for sensitive areas.
For agglomerations of this size in France, secondary treatment is standard, with tertiary treatment required if the receiving water body is designated as sensitive under the EU directive.
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