Overview
Douvrin wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 9,256 people in Douvrin, Hauts-de-France, France. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
The Douvrin wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Douvrin, within the Pas-de-Calais department of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 9,256 residents, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under European Union classification. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the coast. As a French wastewater treatment facility serving a population between 2,000 and 10,000, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment (biological treatment) for discharges to freshwater and estuaries. The plant's treatment processes are expected to meet the effluent quality standards set by French regulations, which transpose the directive into national law. The treated effluent from the Douvrin plant is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the North Sea via the Lys and Scheldt river basins. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream communities. Its operation contributes to the ecological health of the Scheldt estuary and the southern North Sea.
Environmental context
The Douvrin plant discharges into the local river network, which flows into the Lys River, a tributary of the Scheldt. The Scheldt estuary is an ecologically important area supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads entering the North Sea, protecting coastal and marine environments from eutrophication and contamination.
Frequently asked questions
The Douvrin wastewater treatment plant is located at Boulevard Nord, Douvrin, in the Pas-de-Calais department of the Hauts-de-France region, France.
The Douvrin plant serves approximately 9,256 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU classification.
The treated effluent from the Douvrin plant is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Lys River, part of the Scheldt basin, ultimately reaching the North Sea.
As a French plant serving over 2,000 people, the Douvrin plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for freshwater discharges.
For agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent, French regulations typically require secondary treatment (biological treatment) to meet effluent standards set by the EU directive.
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