Saint Hippolyte du Fort Wastewater Treatment Plant - Occitanie, France

The Saint Hippolyte du Fort wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, in the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France. This facility serves a population of approximately 2,847 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for sensitive areas. With a designed capacity of 6,000 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 507.90 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Vidourle River or its tributaries. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and supports the ecological health of the region's rivers and coastal environment.

The plant discharges into the local water system within the Vidourle River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Le Grau-du-Roi. This coastal region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory fish species. The advanced treatment level helps reduce nutrient loading and protects the sensitive marine ecosystem from eutrophication.