LHERM 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lherm, Occitanie

LHERM 2 is a wastewater treatment plant located in Lherm, a commune in the Haute-Garonne department of Occitanie, southern France. The plant serves a population of about 3,700 and has a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 660 m³/day. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and operates under French regulations transposing the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. This level of treatment is typical for plants discharging into sensitive areas, such as those upstream of ecologically important water bodies. The plant's capacity utilization is moderate, indicating it has room to accommodate future growth. The treated effluent from LHERM 2 is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Garonne River basin. The Garonne flows through southwestern France and into the Gironde estuary on the Atlantic coast. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the water quality of these downstream environments, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses.

LHERM 2 discharges into the local watershed that feeds the Garonne River, which flows through the Occitanie region and into the Gironde estuary. The Garonne basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. Advanced treatment at the plant reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and the estuary.