Overview
Sauveterre wastewater treatment plant serves Sauveterre-de-Béarn in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It provides advanced treatment for a population of 2,616 and has a designed capacity of 10,000 m³/day.
The Sauveterre wastewater treatment plant is located in Sauveterre-de-Béarn, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,616 residents and is designed to handle a capacity of 10,000 m³/day, indicating it is sized for future growth or seasonal variations. As an advanced treatment plant, Sauveterre 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 scale are required to provide secondary treatment, but advanced treatment is often implemented in sensitive areas to protect water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Gave d'Oloron river and then the Adour river before reaching the Bay of Biscay. The surrounding region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as an important corridor for migratory fish species.
Environmental context
The Sauveterre plant discharges into the Gave d'Oloron river, a tributary of the Adour river, which flows into the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic coast. The watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including habitats for migratory fish such as salmon and eels. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Frequently asked questions
The Sauveterre plant is located in Sauveterre-de-Béarn, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The address is Chemin du Gave, Saint-Marc, Sauveterre-de-Béarn.
The plant serves a population of approximately 2,616 residents. Its designed capacity of 10,000 m³/day suggests it can accommodate additional load from seasonal tourism or future growth.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Gave d'Oloron river, which flows into the Adour river and eventually reaches the Bay of Biscay. The advanced treatment process ensures high-quality effluent to protect the downstream aquatic environment.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. As an advanced treatment facility, it likely meets additional requirements for sensitive areas.
In France, plants serving agglomerations of 2,000 to 10,000 population equivalent are required to provide secondary treatment under the EU directive. Many facilities, like Sauveterre, implement advanced treatment to reduce nutrient pollution and protect sensitive water bodies.
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