Ailly-sur-Somme SE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hauts-de-France

The Ailly-sur-Somme SE wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Ailly-sur-Somme, within the Somme department of the Hauts-de-France region. This facility serves a population of approximately 3,172 residents and has a designed capacity of 6,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 565.88 m³/day. As an advanced treatment plant, it goes beyond the secondary treatment requirements mandated by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The advanced treatment likely includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters, in line with French regulations for plants discharging into ecologically sensitive areas. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Somme River, which flows through the region and eventually reaches the English Channel via the Somme Bay. The Somme River and its estuary are ecologically important, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a migratory corridor for birds. The advanced treatment helps maintain water quality in this sensitive downstream environment.

The plant discharges into the Somme River, which flows northwest through the Hauts-de-France region and empties into the Somme Bay, a large estuary on the English Channel. The Somme Bay is an ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse bird populations and marine life. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting the river and estuary from eutrophication and preserving habitat quality.