MOUCHAMPS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mouchamps, France

The MOUCHAMPS wastewater treatment plant serves the commune of Mouchamps in the Vendée department of Pays de la Loire, France. It is a secondary treatment facility designed to handle a population equivalent of approximately 2,067 residents, with a designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day. The plant currently discharges an average of 368.75 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment plant, MOUCHAMPS meets the minimum treatment requirements under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for populations between 2,000 and 10,000, which applies here. The plant's capacity utilization suggests it operates well below its design capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent from MOUCHAMPS is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Vendée River and the Bay of Biscay. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting both local aquatic ecosystems and downstream coastal environments.

The MOUCHAMPS plant discharges into the Vendée River basin, which flows into the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic coast. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory fish species. The secondary treatment provided helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting the downstream estuarine and coastal ecosystems from eutrophication.