QUINTENAS village Wastewater Treatment Plant, Quintenas, France

QUINTENAS village is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Quintenas, a commune in the Ardèche department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,100 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size in non-sensitive areas. With a designed capacity of 2,167 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 553.03 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River via the Ardèche River. The Rhône is a major European river that flows into the Mediterranean Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and industry in the region.

The plant discharges into the Ardèche River basin, a tributary of the Rhône River. The Rhône flows southward through southeastern France and enters the Mediterranean Sea via the Camargue delta. This watershed supports rich biodiversity, including migratory fish species and wetland habitats. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality in the sensitive Mediterranean coastal zone.