QUINSAC Wastewater Treatment Plant, Camblanes-et-Meynac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

QUINSAC is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Camblanes-et-Meynac, a commune in the Gironde department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The plant serves a population of 874, placing it in the small agglomeration category under French and EU regulations. It is situated near the city of Bordeaux, a major urban and wine-producing region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 2000 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 155.92 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment of municipal wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Garonne River and then the Gironde estuary, a major ecological and economic waterway. The estuary supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect this sensitive downstream environment from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the Garonne River basin, which flows through Bordeaux and into the Gironde estuary, the largest estuary in western Europe. This estuary is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse fish populations and serving as a critical stopover for migratory birds. Advanced treatment at QUINSAC reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in the downstream marine environment.