SAINT CIERS S_GIRONDE LES BERTHETS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Ciers-sur-Gironde, France

The SAINT CIERS S_GIRONDE LES BERTHETS wastewater treatment plant is located in Saint-Ciers-sur-Gironde, within the Blaye arrondissement of Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. This facility serves a population of 1,634 and has a designed capacity of 4,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 291.50 cubic meters per day. 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. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. As a French facility, it operates under national regulations transposing EU directives, with permits issued by the local water agency (Agence de l'Eau). The treated effluent is discharged into the Gironde estuary, a major tidal estuary on the Atlantic coast that drains into the Bay of Biscay. The estuary supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eels. The plant's coastal proximity (within 10 km of the coast) underscores the importance of its advanced treatment in protecting the estuarine and marine environment.

The plant discharges into the Gironde estuary, which flows into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). This estuary is a critical habitat for migratory fish and supports a rich ecosystem of invertebrates and birds. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the sensitive estuarine environment from eutrophication.