GHISLENGHIEN Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ath, Hainaut, Belgium

GHISLENGHIEN is a wastewater treatment plant located in Ath, within the Hainaut province of Belgium. It serves a population of approximately 2,989 people, placing it in the small agglomeration category under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant is situated in the Walloon region, an area characterized by its rolling hills and agricultural landscape. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required under the EU directive for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 6,500 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 534.28 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local aquatic environment and downstream ecosystems, including the Scheldt estuary, which supports diverse fish and bird populations.

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, supporting migratory birds and fish species. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollution, safeguarding water quality in the downstream river and coastal zone.