Overview
Saint-André-les-Alpes wastewater treatment plant in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, serves about 2,965 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 528.95 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 3,750 m³/day.
The Saint-André-les-Alpes wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Saint-André-les-Alpes, within the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,965 residents, reflecting its role in a small alpine community. As an advanced treatment facility, it likely employs processes such as biological nutrient removal or tertiary filtration to meet stringent effluent standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,750 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily volume of 528.95 cubic meters, indicating significant spare capacity. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalents are required to provide secondary treatment, but this facility exceeds that standard with advanced treatment. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Verdon River, a tributary of the Durance River, and then into the Rhône River before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive alpine aquatic ecosystems and downstream water quality in the Verdon Gorge region, a popular tourist destination.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Verdon River basin, which flows through the Verdon Gorge and joins the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône. The Rhône then empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to its karst geology and seasonal flow variations. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream habitats, including those in the Camargue delta.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Saint-André-les-Alpes, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, southeastern France.
The plant serves approximately 2,965 residents, typical of a small alpine commune.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Verdon River, then the Durance River, the Rhône River, and ultimately the Mediterranean Sea.
The plant provides advanced treatment, exceeding the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive's requirement for secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
The plant has a designed capacity of 3,750 cubic meters per day, with an average daily flow of 528.95 cubic meters, indicating ample reserve capacity.
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