Overview
OLORON SAINTE MARIE wastewater treatment plant serves Oloron-Sainte-Marie in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It treats wastewater for approximately 20,000 residents under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The OLORON SAINTE MARIE wastewater treatment plant is located in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 20,000, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU regulations. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment process and capacity details are not publicly available, but it is expected to meet the regulatory standards for its population tier. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Gave d'Oloron and the Adour River. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Pyrenean foothills.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent flows into the Gave d'Oloron, a river that joins the Gave de Pau to form the Gaves Réunis, which then merges with the Adour River before reaching the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean. This watershed supports a variety of fish species, including salmon and trout, and the riverine ecosystem is sensitive to nutrient pollution. The region's mountainous terrain and seasonal rainfall influence flow rates and dilution capacity.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Rue du Château Abbatial, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
The plant serves approximately 20,167 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent is discharged into the Gave d'Oloron river, which flows into the Adour River and eventually reaches the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean.
As a French facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and may require tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving 10,000 to 100,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment (biological treatment). In sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal may be required.
Nearby plants