Overview
Molines wastewater treatment plant serves Château-Ville-Vieille in the Hautes-Alpes department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It treats wastewater for approximately 6,030 people.
Molines is a wastewater treatment plant located in the commune of Château-Ville-Vieille, within the Briançon area of the Hautes-Alpes department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. The plant serves a population of around 6,030, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under French and EU regulations. As a French facility, Molines operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with national standards. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Rhône flows into the Mediterranean Sea, making the plant's operations relevant to the ecological health of these water bodies.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the local stream network, which feeds into the Durance River. The Durance is a significant alpine river that supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation and hydroelectric power. It joins the Rhône, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to its mountainous terrain and seasonal flow variations, requiring careful management of nutrient loads to prevent eutrophication downstream.
Frequently asked questions
The Molines plant is located in Château-Ville-Vieille, a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, near the town of Briançon.
The plant serves approximately 6,030 people, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which flows into the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
As a French facility, Molines operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent are generally required to have secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
Nearby plants