BAILLEUL SIR BERTHOULT SE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Willerval, Hauts-de-France

BAILLEUL SIR BERTHOULT SE is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Willerval, near Bailleul-Sir-Berthoult, in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,833, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the Arras area. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 2,033 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 327 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. As a French facility, it operates under national regulations transposing the EU UWWTD, with permits issued by the local water agency (Agence de l'Eau). The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Scheldt River basin, flowing north toward the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, particularly the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the Scheldt estuary and the North Sea coastal zone. Its advanced treatment level ensures high removal of nutrients and pollutants, supporting the ecological health of downstream waters.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Scheldt River basin, which flows through northern France and Belgium before reaching the North Sea near Antwerp. The Scheldt estuary is an ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish and bird species. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting the estuary from eutrophication and maintaining water quality for downstream communities and ecosystems.