PORT D ALBRET 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Soustons, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

PORT D ALBRET 2 is a wastewater treatment plant located in Soustons, within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 65,400, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location near the Atlantic coast places it in a sensitive environmental zone. As a French plant serving over 50,000 people, PORT D ALBRET 2 is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. For agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters, the directive may also mandate more advanced treatment if the receiving area is designated as sensitive. The plant's designed capacity is 1. 00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating a substantial infrastructure footprint. The plant's treated effluent ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean via local rivers and coastal lagoons. The nearby Landes forest and the region's lakes (such as Étang de Soustons) create a complex hydrological network that supports diverse aquatic life. The plant's performance is critical to maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal zone, which is important for tourism and local fisheries.

The plant discharges into the coastal watershed of the Landes region, where waters drain through a series of lakes (including Étang de Soustons) and rivers before reaching the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean. This area supports diverse aquatic habitats, including migratory fish corridors and wetland ecosystems that rely on good water quality. The proximity to the coast increases the risk of nutrient enrichment and algal blooms if treatment is insufficient.