MUSSIDAN intercommunale Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mussidan, France

MUSSIDAN intercommunale is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Mussidan, in the Dordogne department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,600 people and has a designed capacity of 6,000 m³ per day, with an average discharge volume of 820.63 m³ per day. As an advanced treatment facility, the plant goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting the stringent requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), the directive mandates appropriate treatment, and France's national regulations often require advanced treatment in sensitive areas to protect water quality. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Isle River and then the Dordogne River, a major tributary of the Garonne estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The Dordogne River is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing important habitat for migratory fish species.

The treated effluent from MUSSIDAN intercommunale flows into the local watercourse, which is part of the Isle River basin. The Isle River joins the Dordogne River, a major river in southwestern France that empties into the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The Dordogne River supports a rich ecosystem, including migratory fish such as salmon and eels, and its waters are used for agriculture and recreation. The advanced treatment at this plant helps protect downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.