Overview
Villefranche-de-Panat wastewater treatment plant serves the commune in Occitanie, France. It treats wastewater for approximately 6,736 people under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The Villefranche-de-Panat wastewater treatment plant is located in the Aveyron department of Occitanie, southern France. It serves the commune of Villefranche-de-Panat and surrounding areas, with a population equivalent of approximately 6,736. The plant is situated in a rural, inland setting near the Alrance river basin. As a French wastewater facility serving a medium agglomeration (between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent), it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC. This directive requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater and estuaries for agglomerations of this size. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with national standards set by the French Ministry of Ecology. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tarn river system and then the Garonne river, reaching the Atlantic Ocean via the Gironde estuary. The surrounding area is characterized by the rugged terrain of the Massif Central, with sensitive aquatic ecosystems that benefit from proper wastewater treatment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Alrance river, a tributary of the Tarn river, which flows into the Garonne river and eventually the Atlantic Ocean via the Gironde estuary. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as trout and grayling, and is part of a region known for its natural landscapes. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Villefranche-de-Panat, in the Aveyron department of Occitanie, southern France. Its address is Chemin de la Station, 12430 Villefranche-de-Panat.
The plant serves approximately 6,736 people, corresponding to the commune of Villefranche-de-Panat and nearby areas.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, likely the Alrance river, which flows into the Tarn river system and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
As a French plant serving a medium agglomeration (2,000-10,000 PE), it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for freshwater discharges.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent are generally required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) to meet quality standards for organic matter and suspended solids.
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