New Eaux Blanches Plant in Sète Delivers Ultrafiltration, Biogas Production and Circular-Economy Solutions for 165,000 Residents

New Eaux Blanches Plant in Sète Delivers Ultrafiltration, Biogas Production and Circular-Economy Solutions for 165,000 Residents

(IN BRIEF) On June 14, 2025, key officials inaugurated the new Eaux Blanches wastewater treatment plant in Sète, Hérault—a €64 million infrastructure upgrade launched in 2018 to modernize sanitation across seven municipalities. The facility employs ultrafiltration membranes to achieve “Class A” discharge quality, handles 6.5 million m³ of wastewater annually (with room to expand), and features a storm reservoir and adaptive controls to mitigate climate-related risks. Integrated into the Val’Thau ecopole, it recovers 500,000 Nm³ of biomethane, 2,800 MWh of steam for sludge drying and composts residual biosolids, while reusing treated water for industrial partners. With 55 percent of contracts awarded to regional SMEs and extensive training initiatives, the plant not only strengthens environmental protection and resource recovery but also fuels local economic and educational programs.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 17-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — On June 14, 2025, senior regional and municipal leaders—including Loïc Linares, President of Sète agglopôle méditerranée; Hervé Marques, Mayor of Sète; Karine Bonacina, Director of the Montpellier delegation of the Rhône Méditerranée Corse Water Agency; Arnaud Bazire, CEO of SUEZ Water France; and François-Xavier Lauch, Prefect of Hérault—officially opened the state-of-the-art Eaux Blanches wastewater treatment facility on the Mediterranean coast in Sète, Hérault. This cutting-edge plant is designed to safeguard precious water resources and bolster environmental resilience in a region increasingly affected by climate extremes.

Loïc Linares emphasized the project’s strategic importance: “We selected a facility that delivers substantial environmental and territorial benefits. The Eaux Blanches station is a forward-looking investment perfectly tailored to our community’s needs and will influence the region’s development for decades to come.” Karine Bonacina added that the new installation “demonstrates how local authorities can tackle the water transition, protect aquatic ecosystems and adapt to climate change with solutions that are simple, intelligent and fully integrated.” Arnaud Bazire remarked, “We are proud to support Sète agglopôle méditerranée’s industrial ecology initiative by providing a sanitation service that both protects the environment and recovers valuable resources.”

Launched in 2018 as a €64 million modernization effort led by Sète agglopôle méditerranée, the Rhône Méditerranée Corse Water Agency and Thau Maritima (a joint venture between SUEZ and Vauban Infrastructure Partners), the plant now processes 89 percent of wastewater from seven neighboring municipalities—some 6.5 million m³ annually, equivalent to 165,000 residents, with scalable capacity up to 190,000 population-equivalents. This expansion addresses surging summer populations and the dual challenges of prolonged droughts and intense downpours.

Utilizing ultrafiltration membrane technology, Eaux Blanches achieves over 90 percent removal of organic contaminants and discharges water at “Class A” bathing quality, thereby protecting both the Mediterranean Sea and the nearby Thau Basin. A dedicated storm reservoir and adaptive operating protocols minimize overflow risks during heavy rainfall, safeguarding local aquaculture and sensitive habitats.

Embedded within the Val’Thau ecopole, the plant exemplifies circular economy principles: it links to an adjacent waste-to-energy unit and the SAIPOL industrial facility to optimize water, energy and material cycles. Annually, 500,000 Nm³ of biogas is produced from sludge and fed into the GRDF network, while 2,800 MWh of steam from waste incineration dries sludge and will, from 2025, heat the digester to boost methane yields; the remaining biosolids are composted for agricultural use. A treated-water reuse system currently supplies 60,000 m³ per year to the waste-to-energy plant, rising to an additional 540,000 m³ for SAIPOL in 2026.

Beyond its technical prowess, the project delivered 55 percent of its contract value to Occitanie-based SMEs (one third local to Sète agglopôle méditerranée) and generated over 45,000 hours of workforce integration and training since 2018. Its contemporary architecture and mitigation measures also ensure minimal visual, noise and odor impact. Starting in 2025, an educational tour program will host twenty school classes annually to explore the synergies of water management, energy recovery and industrial ecology.

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SOURCE: SUEZ