STE SOULLE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Usseau, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The STE SOULLE wastewater treatment plant is located in Usseau, part of the commune of Sainte-Soulle, in the Charente-Maritime department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The plant serves a population of 12,265 and is situated near the Atlantic coast, within 50 km of the shoreline. As a French wastewater treatment facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries, and more advanced treatment for sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or equivalent), indicating it is sized to handle the local population's wastewater. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Pertuis d'Antioche strait. The receiving water bodies include small coastal rivers and marshes that support diverse aquatic life and are important for migratory birds. The region's coastal environment is ecologically sensitive, and proper treatment helps protect marine water quality and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that flows into the Pertuis d'Antioche, a strait connecting to the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean. This coastal area features salt marshes and estuaries that provide critical habitat for fish, shellfish, and migratory birds. The region's water quality is influenced by agricultural runoff and urban discharges, making effective wastewater treatment essential for preserving the ecological balance of these sensitive marine and coastal ecosystems.