Overview
AUBERCHICOURT wastewater treatment plant serves Auberchicourt in Hauts-de-France, France. It handles a population equivalent of approximately 20,162 under EU regulatory standards.
The AUBERCHICOURT wastewater treatment plant is located in Auberchicourt, a commune in the Nord department of Hauts-de-France, France. The facility serves a population equivalent of approximately 20,162, placing it within the medium agglomeration category under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). As a French plant, it operates under national regulations transposing the UWWTD, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater bodies. Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations with a population equivalent between 10,000 and 150,000 are required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) for their wastewater. The plant's location inland, more than 50 km from the coast, means its treated effluent is discharged into a freshwater system, likely the Scarpe River or a tributary, which ultimately flows into the Scheldt basin. The regulatory framework ensures that the plant meets effluent quality standards for biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and suspended solids. The plant's discharge contributes to the water quality of the local watershed, which drains through the Scarpe River to the Scheldt Estuary and eventually the North Sea. The region's water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are used for agriculture and recreation. Proper treatment at this facility helps protect downstream ecosystems and maintain compliance with the Water Framework Directive's objectives for good ecological status.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Scarpe River basin, part of the larger Scheldt watershed that flows through France and Belgium into the North Sea. The Scarpe River is a lowland river supporting diverse fish species and aquatic vegetation. Downstream, the Scheldt Estuary is an ecologically important area for migratory birds and fish. The plant's treatment performance directly affects the water quality of these water bodies, influencing nutrient levels and oxygen availability for aquatic life.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Rue Failly in Auberchicourt, a commune in the Nord department of Hauts-de-France, France.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 20,162, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Scarpe River basin, which flows into the Scheldt River and eventually the North Sea.
As a French plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent are required to provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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