Puget-Théniers Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alpes-Maritimes, France

The Puget-Théniers wastewater treatment plant is located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, serving the small agglomeration of Puget-Théniers with a population of 3,808. The plant is situated along the D 6202 road in the hamlet of Planet, Blancaria, and operates as a municipal facility under French water management regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. Its designed capacity is 5,500 m³/day, and current discharge volume is 679.34 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. The plant is not within 10 km of the coast but lies within 50 km, reflecting its inland mountain setting. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains toward the Mediterranean Sea via the Var River system. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Var and its tributaries, which support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional water resources in the Alpes-Maritimes.

The plant discharges into the Var River basin, which flows southeast to the Mediterranean Sea near Nice. The Var is a coastal river with a Mediterranean hydrological regime, supporting fish species such as brown trout and the endangered European eel. Downstream, the river's estuary and adjacent marine areas are ecologically sensitive, hosting seagrass meadows and nursery habitats for marine life. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the coastal zone.