BRETTEVILLE L ORGUEILLEUSE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Thue et Mue, Normandy

BRETTEVILLE L ORGUEILLEUSE is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in the commune of Thue et Mue, within the Calvados department of Normandy, France. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,572 residents, reflecting its role as a medium-sized municipal treatment works in a semi-rural setting near the city of Caen. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go 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 3,500 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 458.84 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating headroom for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the English Channel via the Orne River and its estuary. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge contributes to the nutrient and water quality dynamics of the coastal zone, which supports diverse marine life and is an important area for fisheries and tourism.

The plant discharges into the local watercourse that flows into the Orne River, which then reaches the English Channel near Ouistreham. The Orne estuary and adjacent coastal waters are ecologically sensitive, supporting migratory fish species and providing habitat for seabirds and marine invertebrates. Nutrient loading from wastewater can affect algal growth and water clarity in this coastal environment.