Overview
SAINT JEAN wastewater treatment plant serves L'Union, Occitanie, France, treating wastewater for approximately 19,257 people. The facility operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The SAINT JEAN wastewater treatment plant is located in L'Union, a commune in the Haute-Garonne department of Occitanie, southern France. It serves a population of around 19,257 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Autoroute du Pastel, within the metropolitan area of Toulouse. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are in sensitive areas. The plant is expected to meet these regulatory standards to protect local water quality. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Garonne River via the Hers-Mort or other tributaries. The Garonne flows into the Gironde estuary and then the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in safeguarding the ecological health of these water bodies, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Garonne River basin, which flows through southwestern France into the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eels. Protecting water quality in this basin is critical for maintaining biodiversity and supporting agricultural and recreational uses downstream.
Frequently asked questions
The SAINT JEAN plant is located in L'Union, a commune in the Haute-Garonne department of Occitanie, France, near the Autoroute du Pastel within the Toulouse metropolitan area.
The plant serves approximately 19,257 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Garonne River basin and ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the Gironde estuary.
As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and may require tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving 10,000 to 100,000 people typically require secondary treatment (biological treatment). In sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal may be required.
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