SOULLANS Rte de St Gilles Wastewater Treatment Plant, Soullans, France

SOULLANS Rte de St Gilles is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Soullans, a commune in the Vendée department of Pays de la Loire, France. The plant serves a population of 1,683 and is situated near the Atlantic coast, reflecting the region's coastal and agricultural character. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 1,840 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 300.24 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the coastal rivers and marshes of the Vendée. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's coastal water quality and supporting the ecological health of nearby estuaries and marine habitats.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that flows into the Atlantic Ocean via the Vendée coastal rivers. The area features sensitive estuarine and marine ecosystems, including salt marshes and mudflats that support diverse birdlife and aquatic species. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the downstream coastal environment.