Etang De Thau - Plage Sud

20.9°C Water temp · Jun 8

France Transitional 1 - Excellent 20.9°C

Satellite image of ETANG DE THAU - PLAGE SUD — Satellite image © Esri

Plage Sud is a bathing beach in Balaruc-Les-Bains, located in the Hérault department on the shores of Étang de Thau lagoon. The beach extends approximately 300 meters along the promenade and is composed of coarse sand. It is an artificially maintained beach equipped with three rocky groynes with pontoons, with sand replenished before each bathing season. Daily cleaning of algae is performed each morning to prevent decomposition and potential contamination.

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Water

Étang de Thau lagoon, the largest and deepest lagoon in the Languedoc region. Maximum depth of the bathing zone is approximately 2 to 3 meters. The beach extends approximately 300 meters in length.

Location

Balaruc-Les-Bains, Hérault department, France. Plage Sud is located east of the town center along the promenade. The bathing zone is delimited by yellow spherical buoys to the east, the west side of the swimming pool, and the alignment of Rocher de Roquerols with the Pointe de Balaruc to the west.

Facilities

Rescue posts, sanititary facilities, accessible facilities for animals, warning signs displayed, daily beach cleaning with sand screen since 2015, planned mechanical rake for algae removal.

Season

Official bathing season monitoring programme established. Sand replenishment and beach maintenance occur before each bathing season.

Water Quality

Water quality classification is 'insufficient' under Directive 2006/7/CE based on the last four bathing seasons of monitoring results. The site is officially declared to the ARS (Regional Health Authority) and subject to a bathing water quality monitoring programme. A Type 3 profile applies: risk of contamination is confirmed and causes are insufficiently known.

Risks

Algae proliferation requiring daily removal. Episodes of cyanobacteria presence, jellyfish invasion, green algae proliferation, Ostreopsis spp, bather dermatitis cases, and hydrocarbon or floating matter deposits have been documented. Risk of contamination from stormwater discharge, wastewater treatment plant releases, and recreational nautical activities.