Overview
Orcieres wastewater treatment plant serves Serre-Eyraud in the Hautes-Alpes department of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France. It treats wastewater from a population equivalent of 18,850 under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The Orcieres wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Orcieres, serving the locality of Serre-Eyraud in the Hautes-Alpes department of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region, southeastern France. The plant handles wastewater from a population equivalent of approximately 18,850, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. 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 discharging into freshwater. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. Regulatory compliance ensures appropriate treatment standards are met. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhone River. The Rhone flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The surrounding Alpine environment supports diverse aquatic life, and the plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this ecologically sensitive mountain region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Durance River basin, which flows into the Rhone River and then the Mediterranean Sea. The Alpine watershed is characterized by seasonal snowmelt and supports sensitive aquatic ecosystems, including populations of native fish species. Protecting water quality is critical for downstream biodiversity and recreational uses.
Frequently asked questions
The Orcieres wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Orcieres, at La Fruitiere, Serre-Eyraud, in the Hautes-Alpes department of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region, France.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 18,850, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU standards.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhone River, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and may require advanced treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be required to remove nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.
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