SOUILLAC 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Souillac, Occitanie, France

SOUILLAC 2 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Souillac, a commune in the Lot department of Occitanie, southern France. The plant serves a population of about 2,950 and has a designed capacity of 8,500 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 526.27 m³/day. It operates under the French regulatory framework, which implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). As a secondary treatment facility, SOUILLAC 2 provides biological treatment that removes organic matter and suspended solids. For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), the EU directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. The plant's capacity utilization is low relative to its design, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Dordogne River. The Dordogne is a major river in southwestern France, flowing into the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The river supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region.

SOUILLAC 2 discharges into the Dordogne River basin, a significant watercourse in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie regions. The Dordogne flows westward to join the Garonne, forming the Gironde estuary, which empties into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The river supports a variety of fish species, including salmon and trout, and its riparian zones provide habitat for birds and mammals. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system.