Overview
MAUSSANE LES ALPILLES wastewater treatment plant serves Maussane-les-Alpilles, France, with secondary treatment for a population of 4,968. It discharges 886.28 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day.
The MAUSSANE LES ALPILLES wastewater treatment plant is located in Maussane-les-Alpilles, within the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. It serves a population of approximately 4,968 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant is situated near the Vallée des Baux, a notable natural area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU directive for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 886.28 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Rhône River delta. The region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and important migratory bird habitats in the Camargue wetlands. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant area.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local watershed that feeds into the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea via the Camargue delta. This region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as an important migratory corridor for birds. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting downstream water quality in the Camargue wetlands.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at the Déchetterie de la Vallée des Baux, D 178, Maussane-les-Alpilles, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
The plant serves a population of 4,968 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Rhône River and ultimately the Mediterranean Sea. The plant provides secondary treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
As a French plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000 discharging into freshwater.
For small agglomerations (2,000-10,000 PE) in France, secondary treatment is standard, often involving activated sludge or biological filtration, to meet EU directive requirements for organic matter and suspended solids removal.
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