SALIES DE BEARN Wastewater Treatment Plant, Salies-de-Béarn, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

SALIES DE BEARN is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Salies-de-Béarn, within the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,250 residents, providing advanced treatment to protect local water quality. As an advanced treatment facility, SALIES DE BEARN goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent French and European standards. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment, but advanced treatment is often implemented in sensitive areas to further reduce environmental impact. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Adour River system. By employing advanced treatment, the plant helps safeguard downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports the ecological health of the region's rivers and coastal waters.

The plant discharges into the Adour River basin, which flows through the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region before reaching the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and eels. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and protecting the ecological balance of the estuary and coastal zone.