Pontacq 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pontacq, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Pontacq 2 is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Pontacq, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The plant serves a population of around 3,133 people, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for this small agglomeration. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 558.92 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a French plant, it operates under the national transposition of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Adour River basin and then into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports water quality in the region.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed the Adour River, which flows into the Bay of Biscay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory fish species. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological health of the downstream environment.