SAUVETERRE 30 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sauveterre, Occitanie

SAUVETERRE 30 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Sauveterre, a commune in the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France. The plant serves a population of around 2,016, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). It is situated near the city of Nîmes, within the Rhône-Mediterranean basin. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and a reported discharge volume of 359.65 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment of wastewater. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River and then the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in safeguarding the region's water quality, supporting both ecological health and human uses such as recreation and agriculture downstream.

The plant discharges into the local water system within the Rhône-Mediterranean basin, which flows into the Rhône River and eventually the Mediterranean Sea. This coastal region supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and maintaining water quality for sensitive habitats.