TARBES OUEST Wastewater Treatment Plant - Oursbelille, Occitanie, France

TARBES OUEST is a wastewater treatment plant located in Oursbelille, a commune near Tarbes in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of Occitanie, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 48,000 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from the coast, and discharges into the local watershed. As a French plant serving over 10,000 population equivalent, TARBES OUEST operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. For agglomerations of this size, the directive also mandates appropriate treatment to meet quality standards for receiving waters. The plant's treatment process and capacity are consistent with these regulatory requirements. The treated effluent from TARBES OUEST is discharged into the Adour river basin, which flows through the Pyrenees region and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the Bay of Biscay. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local aquatic environment and downstream ecosystems, including the Gaves rivers that support diverse wildlife and are important for regional biodiversity.

TARBES OUEST discharges into the Adour river basin, a major watershed in southwestern France. The Adour river flows through the Pyrenees foothills and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Bayonne. The downstream environment includes sensitive aquatic habitats that support migratory fish species such as salmon and eels. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically important river system.