Overview
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie wastewater treatment plant in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, serves about 5,180 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 924 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 7,200 m³/day.
The Moustiers-Sainte-Marie wastewater treatment plant is located in the picturesque village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It serves a population of approximately 5,180 residents and visitors, reflecting the small agglomeration scale typical of this rural alpine region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, meeting the stringent requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for sensitive areas. With a designed capacity of 7,200 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 924 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating robust infrastructure for seasonal tourist fluctuations. Treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Verdon River, a tributary of the Durance River, and then into the Rhône River before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Verdon Gorge and downstream aquatic ecosystems, which are ecologically sensitive and support diverse biodiversity.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Verdon River basin, which flows through the Verdon Gorge, a major tourist and ecological area. The Verdon River joins the Durance River, a key tributary of the Rhône River, which empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in this sensitive karst region.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Le Moulin, Route des Salles-Aups, in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
The plant serves approximately 5,180 people, including residents and seasonal tourists in this popular alpine village.
The plant uses advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, ensuring high-quality effluent.
The plant discharges into the Verdon River basin, protecting the Verdon Gorge and downstream waters including the Durance and Rhône rivers, ultimately flowing to the Mediterranean Sea.
As a French plant serving a small agglomeration, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires advanced treatment in sensitive areas like the Verdon basin.
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