Overview
FERQUES wastewater treatment plant in Élinghen, France, serves 266 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 47.45 m³/day and is located within 10 km of the coast.
FERQUES is a wastewater treatment plant located in Élinghen, a locality within the commune of Ferques in the Pas-de-Calais department of Hauts-de-France, France. The plant serves a small population of 266 residents and operates with advanced treatment technology, reflecting high environmental standards for its scale. The plant's designed capacity is 2,250 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 47.45 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. As a French facility, it operates under the national transposition of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. The advanced treatment level suggests the plant likely employs nutrient removal to protect downstream waters. The plant is situated near the coast of the English Channel, within 10 km of the shoreline. Its treated effluent ultimately drains into the Channel, which supports diverse marine life and is an important ecological and economic resource. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads to this sensitive coastal environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the English Channel via local watercourses. The Channel is a dynamic marine ecosystem supporting fisheries, migratory birds, and diverse benthic habitats. As a coastal facility, the plant's advanced treatment reduces the risk of eutrophication and protects water quality in nearshore areas, which are important for tourism and biodiversity.
Frequently asked questions
The FERQUES plant is located in Élinghen, a locality within the commune of Ferques in the Pas-de-Calais department of Hauts-de-France, France. Its address is Rue du Hure, Élinghen, Ferques, Boulogne-sur-Mer.
The plant serves a population of 266 people, making it a small-scale facility designed for a local community.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that flow into the English Channel. Its advanced treatment process ensures high-quality effluent before discharge.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) in addition to secondary biological treatment. This exceeds the minimum EU requirements for sensitive coastal areas.
As a French plant, FERQUES operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into French law. For small agglomerations (<2,000 population equivalent), appropriate treatment is required, and the plant's advanced level aligns with protecting the nearby coastal environment.
Nearby plants