MOUSSAC nouvelle Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moussac, Occitanie

MOUSSAC nouvelle is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Moussac, a commune in the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,731 people and has a design capacity of 1,900 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 665.6 cubic meters per day. As an advanced treatment facility, MOUSSAC nouvelle goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), the directive requires appropriate treatment, and France's national regulations often mandate advanced treatment in sensitive areas to protect water quality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River basin and then into the Mediterranean Sea. The Gard region features karstic landscapes and sensitive aquatic ecosystems, making advanced treatment important for protecting downstream water bodies and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Gardon River basin, a tributary of the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The region's karstic geology and Mediterranean climate create sensitive aquatic habitats that support diverse species, including fish and invertebrates. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in the Rhône delta and coastal marine environment.