ST MEDARD DE GUIZIERES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Médard-de-Guizières, France

The ST MEDARD DE GUIZIERES wastewater treatment plant is located in Saint-Médard-de-Guizières, a commune in the Gironde department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,250 people, reflecting its role as a small-scale municipal facility in a rural setting. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, exceeding the minimum secondary treatment requirements under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). With a designed capacity of 2,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 223 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Dordogne River and then the Gironde estuary, a major ecological and economic asset. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and supports the region's diverse aquatic life.

The plant discharges into the local watercourse, which flows into the Isle River, a tributary of the Dordogne River. The Dordogne then joins the Garonne to form the Gironde estuary, the largest estuary in western Europe. This estuary supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species such as salmon and sturgeon, and is an important ecological corridor. The advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, safeguarding the downstream environment.