Overview
MOUSSAN wastewater treatment plant in Moussan, Occitanie, France, serves 1,480 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 264.03 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 2,500 m³/day.
The MOUSSAN wastewater treatment plant is located in Moussan, a commune in the Aude department of Occitanie, southern France. It serves a population of approximately 1,480 residents, placing it in the small agglomeration category under French and EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Canal de la Robine and the Aude River, contributing to the region's water management infrastructure. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which exceed the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 2,500 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 264.03 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The plant's advanced treatment ensures high-quality effluent, reducing nutrient loads and protecting downstream water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mediterranean Sea via the Aude River and the Gulf of Lion. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the Narbonnaise en Méditerranée regional natural park, which emphasizes ecological conservation. The plant's advanced treatment helps maintain water quality in this sensitive coastal environment, supporting both ecological health and recreational uses.
Environmental context
The MOUSSAN plant discharges into the local hydrographic network that feeds the Aude River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne. The downstream area includes the Gulf of Lion, a productive marine ecosystem supporting fisheries and biodiversity. The region's coastal lagoons and wetlands are ecologically sensitive, relying on good water quality from upstream treatment plants. Advanced treatment at MOUSSAN reduces nutrient pollution, helping to prevent eutrophication in these vulnerable coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
The MOUSSAN plant is located in Moussan, a commune in the Aude department of Occitanie, southern France. Its address is Domaine de la Barque, La Moulinasse, Moussan, near Narbonne.
The plant serves approximately 1,480 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that flow into the Aude River and eventually the Mediterranean Sea. The advanced treatment ensures high-quality discharge.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for small agglomerations.
As a French plant serving fewer than 2,000 people, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds the directive's minimum requirements for sensitive areas.
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