Overview
MAERA Ex CEREIREDE is a large wastewater treatment plant in France métropolitaine, serving approximately 388,783 people. It is located near the Mediterranean coast, within 50 km of the sea.
MAERA Ex CEREIREDE is a major wastewater treatment facility located in France métropolitaine, serving a population of approximately 388,783. As a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment required if discharging into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating its substantial scale. Operating under French regulations that transpose the EU UWWTD, the plant must meet strict effluent standards to protect receiving waters. For agglomerations over 150,000 population equivalent, the directive mandates advanced treatment in sensitive catchments. The plant's proximity to the coast suggests it may discharge into the Mediterranean Sea or a coastal lagoon, where nutrient removal is critical to prevent eutrophication. The plant's location near the Mediterranean coast places it in a region with high ecological sensitivity. The receiving water body, likely a coastal zone or river draining into the Mediterranean, supports diverse marine life and is important for tourism and fisheries. Effective treatment is essential to minimize nutrient and pollutant loads that could harm seagrass meadows, coral habitats, and water quality in this semi-enclosed sea.
Environmental context
The plant is situated in the Languedoc region of southern France, within the drainage basin of the Mediterranean Sea. The nearest river is likely the Lez or Mosson, which flow into the Gulf of Lion. This coastal area supports important marine ecosystems, including Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, which are sensitive to nutrient enrichment and pollution. The Mediterranean Sea is a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange, making it vulnerable to eutrophication from wastewater discharges. Effective treatment at MAERA Ex CEREIREDE is crucial to protect these habitats and maintain water quality for tourism and fishing.
Frequently asked questions
MAERA Ex CEREIREDE is located in France métropolitaine, France, near the Mediterranean coast at coordinates 43.438 N, 3.963 E.
The plant serves approximately 388,783 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant likely discharges into a river or directly into the Mediterranean Sea, given its proximity to the coast. The discharge is regulated under French and EU standards.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into French law. For agglomerations over 150,000 PE, the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, with tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
Plants of this scale in France typically employ secondary biological treatment (e. g. , activated sludge) and may include tertiary treatment such as nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to meet stringent discharge limits, especially in coastal or sensitive zones.
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