Overview
UCHAUD wastewater treatment plant in Uchaud, Occitanie, France, serves 5,213 people with advanced treatment and a designed capacity of 6,000 m³/day, discharging 930 m³/day.
The UCHAUD wastewater treatment plant is located in Uchaud, a commune in the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France. It serves a population of approximately 5,213 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant is situated near Nîmes, within the Rhône-Mediterranean basin. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 6,000 m³/day, with an average daily discharge of about 930 m³, indicating significant spare capacity. The plant is operated as part of France's municipal wastewater infrastructure, overseen by regional water agencies. Treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Mediterranean Sea via the Rhône River system. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's aquatic ecosystems, including the Camargue wetlands and coastal lagoons, by ensuring high-quality effluent before release. Its advanced treatment level helps reduce nutrient loads and safeguard downstream biodiversity.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local watershed within the Rhône-Mediterranean basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea via the Rhône River and its delta. This region includes ecologically sensitive areas such as the Camargue, a vast wetland complex that supports diverse birdlife and aquatic species. Advanced treatment at UCHAUD helps minimize nutrient pollution, protecting downstream water quality and coastal ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The UCHAUD plant is located in Uchaud, a commune in the Gard department of Occitanie, southern France, near the city of Nîmes.
The plant serves approximately 5,213 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater directives.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which exceeds the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), small agglomerations (under 10,000 population equivalent) are required to have appropriate treatment. UCHAUD's advanced treatment goes beyond the minimum, ensuring high environmental protection.
The plant has a designed capacity of 6,000 m³ per day, with an average daily discharge of about 930 m³, indicating substantial spare capacity for future growth.
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