Overview
QUARANTE Fargoussiere is a secondary treatment plant serving 30 people in Quarante, Occitanie, France. It discharges 5.35 m³/day of treated wastewater into the local watershed.
QUARANTE Fargoussiere is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the commune of Quarante, in the Hérault department of Occitanie, southern France. The facility serves a small population of 30 residents, reflecting its role in a rural setting. The plant is situated along the D 184 road at Les Fargoussières, within the broader Béziers area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000, though smaller plants like this one may be subject to national regulations. The designed capacity is 30 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 5.35 m³/day, indicating ample capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Orb River or its tributaries. The plant's location more than 10 km from the coast but within 50 km means it contributes to the protection of coastal water quality. By treating wastewater to secondary standards, the facility helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads in the downstream environment, supporting aquatic life in the regional river systems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Orb River, which then reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Valras-Plage. This coastal zone supports diverse marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries. Secondary treatment reduces biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in the Orb estuary and coastal waters, which are important for tourism and fisheries.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Les Fargoussières, along D 184, in the commune of Quarante, Hérault department, Occitanie, France.
The plant serves a small population of 30 residents, typical of a rural wastewater facility in southern France.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that flows into the Orb River, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for small agglomerations.
As a French plant serving fewer than 2,000 population equivalent, it is subject to national regulations transposing the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment to protect water quality.
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