ROQUEBILLIERE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Roquebillière, France

ROQUEBILLIERE is a wastewater treatment plant located in the commune of Roquebillière, within the Alpes-Maritimes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The plant serves a population of around 2,236 residents and is situated in a mountainous area near the Gordolon stream. It operates under the regulatory framework of the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 3,000 cubic meters per day, and the current discharge volume is approximately 398.9 cubic meters per day, indicating that the plant is operating well below its capacity. This suggests the facility has room to accommodate future population growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Var River system. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the water quality of the region's rivers and the coastal marine environment. Its operation helps preserve the ecological health of the surrounding Alpine streams and supports the biodiversity of the Mediterranean coastal zone.

The plant discharges into the Gordolon stream, a tributary of the Vésubie River, which flows into the Var River before reaching the Mediterranean Sea near Nice. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including native fish species, and the coastal area is ecologically sensitive due to tourism and marine habitats. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, mitigating eutrophication risks in the downstream marine environment.