Overview
SAINT MARTIN STEP de la Pointe des Canonniers serves approximately 12,335 people in Saint-Martin, France. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Caribbean Sea, supporting local water quality.
SAINT MARTIN STEP de la Pointe des Canonniers is a wastewater treatment plant located in Les Terres Basses, Saint-Martin, an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. The plant serves a population of about 12,335, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under French regulations. As a facility in a French overseas territory, the plant operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million cubic meters per year, indicating a facility sized for the local population. The treated effluent is discharged into the Caribbean Sea, which surrounds Saint-Martin. The island's coastal waters support diverse marine life, including coral reefs and seagrass beds, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting these sensitive ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Caribbean Sea, a tropical marine environment that supports coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests. These habitats are ecologically sensitive and provide critical nursery grounds for fish and other marine species. The surrounding watershed is small and coastal, with runoff and wastewater discharges directly influencing nearshore water quality and reef health.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Rue Baie Aux Prumes, Les Terres Basses, in Saint-Martin, an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean.
The plant serves approximately 12,335 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Caribbean Sea, which surrounds the island of Saint-Martin.
As a French overseas territory, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 people discharging into coastal waters.
For a medium agglomeration in a coastal area, secondary treatment is typically required to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge into the marine environment.
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