ARDRES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ardres, Hauts-de-France, France

ARDRES is a wastewater treatment plant located in Ardres, a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department of Hauts-de-France, France. The plant serves a population of 2,883 and is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the area. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 5,833 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 514.32 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the North Sea via the coastal rivers of the region. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its discharge contributes to the water quality of the coastal environment, supporting diverse aquatic life in the estuaries and nearshore waters.

The plant discharges into the local water system that flows through the low-lying plains of Hauts-de-France and eventually reaches the North Sea. This coastal region supports important migratory bird populations and estuarine habitats. The advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive coastal waters from nutrient enrichment and pollution, maintaining the ecological balance of the downstream environment.