BUCY LE LONG Wastewater Treatment Plant, Venizel, Hauts-de-France

The BUCY LE LONG wastewater treatment plant is located in Venizel, near Soissons in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It serves a population of approximately 4,100 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant operates secondary treatment, which is the standard requirement under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for discharges into freshwater bodies. With a designed capacity of 2,000 m³/day and an average daily discharge volume of 731.43 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. As a secondary treatment facility, it removes organic matter and suspended solids but does not include advanced nutrient removal, which may be relevant given the regional agricultural context. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Aisne River, a tributary of the Oise River, which flows into the Seine River and eventually the English Channel. The Seine basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in northern France. The plant's performance is critical to maintaining water quality in this densely populated and agriculturally active region.

The treated effluent from BUCY LE LONG enters local streams that feed into the Aisne River, a major tributary of the Oise River. The Oise joins the Seine River, which flows through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre. This watershed supports diverse freshwater ecosystems and is a vital resource for drinking water, agriculture, and recreation. The Seine basin is ecologically sensitive due to urban and industrial pressures, and secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution but may not fully address nutrient loads from agricultural runoff.