Overview
Fouquieres les Lens wastewater treatment plant serves the commune of Fouquières-lès-Lens in Hauts-de-France, France. It treats wastewater for approximately 54,750 people, operating under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Fouquieres les Lens wastewater treatment plant is located in Fouquières-lès-Lens, a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department of the Hauts-de-France region, northern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 54,750, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this scale are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum. It is expected to meet the directive's standards for biological treatment of organic matter. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, reducing direct marine discharge risks. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality and supporting the ecological health of the downstream aquatic environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local water network that feeds into the Deûle River, a tributary of the Lys River, which is part of the Scheldt basin. The Scheldt flows through northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, ultimately reaching the North Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream habitats and water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at D 39, Fouquières-lès-Lens, in the Pas-de-Calais department of the Hauts-de-France region, northern France.
The plant serves approximately 54,750 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Deûle River, part of the Scheldt basin, eventually reaching the North Sea.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
Under the EU directive, plants serving over 10,000 population equivalent in sensitive areas require tertiary treatment, but secondary treatment is the minimum standard. French plants typically implement biological treatment with nutrient removal where needed.
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