ST GERVAIS rte de St Urbain Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Urbain, Pays de la Loire

ST GERVAIS rte de St Urbain is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Saint-Urbain, within the Vendée department of Pays de la Loire, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,433 people and operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard for small agglomerations under French regulations. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant employs biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,455.00 units and currently discharges 255.64 units of treated wastewater. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), secondary treatment is required for all discharges from agglomerations of this size, ensuring compliance with European environmental standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Bay of Biscay. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can influence coastal water quality, particularly in the sensitive marine environment of the Vendée coast. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for local fisheries and tourism.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that flows into the Atlantic Ocean via the Bay of Biscay. The coastal waters of Vendée are ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse marine life and serving as a habitat for migratory species. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect these waters from nutrient pollution, which can cause eutrophication in coastal zones.