Overview
SAINT ETIENNE EN DEVOLUY wastewater treatment plant serves Le Dévoluy in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, with a population equivalent of 6,550. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The SAINT ETIENNE EN DEVOLUY wastewater treatment plant is located in Le Dévoluy, a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, southeastern France. It serves a population of approximately 6,550 people. The plant is situated in a mountainous area near the ski resort of Superdévoluy, at an altitude of around 1,000 meters. As a facility serving a small agglomeration (under 10,000 population equivalent), the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires appropriate treatment for discharges into freshwater. It plays a key role in protecting local water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which drains into the Durance River via the Buëch River. The Durance is a major tributary of the Rhône, ultimately flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional agriculture and tourism, particularly in the Alpine valleys.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the local stream network, which flows into the Buëch River, a tributary of the Durance River. The Durance is a significant river in southeastern France, supplying irrigation and hydroelectric power, and eventually joins the Rhône near Avignon before reaching the Mediterranean. The watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as brown trout and the endangered European eel. The mountainous terrain and seasonal tourism in the region place additional sensitivity on water quality, as the area is valued for its natural landscapes and outdoor recreation.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Le Dévoluy, a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, southeastern France. Its address is Route de Serre Gautier, Le Pré, Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy, near the ski resort of Superdévoluy.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 6,550 people, covering the town of Le Dévoluy and surrounding areas in the Alpine valley.
Treated wastewater from the plant is discharged into the local stream network, which flows into the Buëch River, a tributary of the Durance River. The Durance ultimately joins the Rhône River and reaches the Mediterranean Sea.
As a French wastewater treatment plant serving a small agglomeration, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater. French national regulations transpose this directive, with oversight by local water agencies.
For agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent, the EU UWWTD requires secondary treatment (biological treatment) to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be required to remove nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.
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