[DREAL OCCITANIA] Eutrophication sensitive area on the Adour-Garonne basin

* Description: Sensitive areas are watersheds, lakes or sea areas that are particularly sensitive to pollution. These include areas that are prone to eutrophication and where releases of phosphorus, nitrogen, or both of these substances need to be reduced. These may also be areas where additional treatment (treatment of nitrogen or microbiological pollution) is necessary in order to comply with Council Directives in the field of water (raw water Directive, ‘baignade’ or ‘conchyliculture’). * Procedure: In each basin or grouping of basins, the basin committee (or DIREN in the overseas departments) draws up a draft map of sensitive areas which is sent to the prefects concerned, who consult the general and regional councils concerned. The Basin Coordinating Prefect addresses the project, with his remarks, to the Minister responsible for the environment, who draws up the map of sensitive areas. The first delimitation of areas sensitive to eutrophication was carried out in the context of the application of Decree No 94-469 of 3 June 1994 which transposes European Directive No 91/271 of 21 May 1991 into French law. With this map to be revised at least every four years, new areas were created in 1999 (present delimitation), with the second order completing the first. * Regulatory obligations imposed in these areas: — establishment of a collection system and treatment plant(s) (with complementary treatment of nitrogen and/or phosphorus and/or treatment of microbiological pollution) — deadline for completion: 31 December 1998 or 31 December 2006 depending on the size of the agglomerations concerned and the date of the order establishing the area. * Reference texts: European Directive No 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 relating to urban waste water treatment — Decree No 94-469 of 3 June 1994 on the collection and treatment of waste water referred to in Articles L. 372-1-1 and L. 372-3 of the Code des communes — Order of 23 November 1994 as amended delimiting sensitive areas pursuant to Decree No 94-469 of 3 June 1994 on the collection and treatment of waste water — Order of 31 August 1999 amending the Decree of 23 November 1994 — Order of 8 January 2001 amending the Decree of 23 November 1994 — Order of 29 December 2009 revising the areas sensitive to eutrophication in the Adour-Garonne basin