BERNISSART Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bernissart, Hainaut, Belgium

The BERNISSART wastewater treatment plant is located in Bernissart, within the province of Hainaut in the Walloon region of Belgium. It serves a small community of approximately 1,960 residents, reflecting its role in managing local domestic wastewater. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. With a designed capacity of 3,100 m³/day and an average daily discharge of 350.35 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant's operation helps protect the water quality of the Scheldt estuary and the downstream marine environment.

The plant discharges into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Belgium and the Netherlands to the North Sea. The Scheldt estuary is an ecologically important area that supports diverse aquatic life and serves as a migratory corridor for fish and birds. The secondary treatment provided by the plant helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, contributing to the health of the downstream ecosystem.