Overview
Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines wastewater treatment plant serves about 6,600 people in Occitanie, France. The facility is located within 50 km of the Mediterranean coast and operates under EU regulatory standards.
The Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility serving the commune of Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of Occitanie, southern France. With a designed capacity of 1.00 cubic meter per day, the plant handles wastewater from a population of approximately 6,647 residents. Its location near the Mediterranean coast places it within a sensitive coastal zone. As a French wastewater treatment plant serving a small agglomeration, the facility is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC. This directive requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater and estuaries, with more stringent tertiary treatment for sensitive areas. French regulations mandate compliance with national standards derived from the directive. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into local watercourses that flow toward the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to the regional water cycle. The surrounding area includes the Tech River basin and coastal lagoons, which support diverse aquatic life. Proper treatment is essential to protect these ecosystems and maintain water quality for recreational and ecological purposes.
Environmental context
The plant is situated in the Pyrénées-Orientales region, where watercourses drain from the Pyrenees mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. The nearest major river is the Tech, which flows into the Mediterranean near Argelès-sur-Mer. The coastal zone includes sensitive habitats such as the Gulf of Lion, which supports diverse marine life and important fisheries. Effective wastewater treatment is crucial to prevent nutrient pollution and protect the region's ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines, a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of Occitanie, southern France. Its address is near the Centre de tri postal on Rue Guynemer.
The plant serves approximately 6,647 residents of Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines and surrounding areas.
The treated effluent is likely discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Tech River, which ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Argelès-sur-Mer.
As a French wastewater treatment plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which sets standards for collection, treatment, and discharge. French national regulations transpose this directive.
For small agglomerations (under 10,000 population equivalent), the EU directive requires appropriate treatment, typically secondary treatment or equivalent. French plants often use activated sludge or biological filters to meet these standards.
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