MILLAS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Millas, Occitanie, France

The MILLAS wastewater treatment plant is located in Millas, a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of Occitanie, southern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,500 and operates with advanced treatment processes, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge. As a facility in France, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale. Advanced treatment goes beyond secondary, typically including nutrient removal to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant's designed capacity of 6,500 m³/day indicates it has room to accommodate future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Têt River or its tributaries. The region's Mediterranean climate means water resources are seasonally stressed, making advanced treatment important for protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and supporting water reuse potential.

The plant discharges into the Têt River basin, which flows eastward into the Mediterranean Sea near Perpignan. The Têt is a coastal river with seasonal flow variations, supporting diverse aquatic life including migratory fish species. Advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the coastal lagoon systems along the Gulf of Lion.