Breteuil sur Iton Wastewater Treatment Plant, Normandy, France

The Breteuil sur Iton wastewater treatment plant is located in Breteuil, within the Normandy region of France. It serves a population of approximately 2,700 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant is situated in the Eure department, an inland area with no coastal proximity. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day and currently treats an average daily volume of 482.75 m³, indicating ample reserve capacity for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Seine River basin and then into the English Channel. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Iton River and downstream ecosystems, including the Seine estuary, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor.

The plant discharges into the Iton River, a tributary of the Eure River, which flows into the Seine River and eventually reaches the English Channel. The Seine estuary is a critical habitat for migratory fish species such as salmon and eel, and supports a rich diversity of birdlife. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality and the ecological balance of the Seine basin.