Overview
GHYVELDE wastewater treatment plant in Ghyvelde, Hauts-de-France, France, serves 3,584 people with advanced treatment and a designed capacity of 4,083 m³/day.
The GHYVELDE wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Ghyvelde, within the Dunkerque arrondissement in the Nord department of Hauts-de-France, France. It serves a population of approximately 3,584 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant is situated near the coast, less than 10 km from the North Sea, and operates under France's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU directive for agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 4,083 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 639.38 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The facility is part of France's national wastewater infrastructure, regulated by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and local water agencies. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the North Sea. The coastal location means the plant plays a key role in protecting the marine environment of the Dover Strait, a busy shipping lane and ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse marine life and migratory bird populations. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and other pollutants that could impact coastal water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local drainage network that flows into the North Sea near the French-Belgian border. This coastal zone is part of the Dover Strait, a critical migratory corridor for seabirds and a habitat for marine species such as harbor porpoises and grey seals. The advanced treatment level helps mitigate eutrophication risks in the nutrient-sensitive coastal waters, supporting the ecological health of the region.
Frequently asked questions
The GHYVELDE plant is located in the commune of Ghyvelde, in the Nord department of Hauts-de-France, France, near the border with Belgium and less than 10 km from the North Sea coast.
The plant serves approximately 3,584 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which drains into the North Sea. The plant's coastal location requires advanced treatment to protect marine water quality.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which exceeds the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of its size.
The plant operates under France's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for small agglomerations and advanced treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's advanced treatment aligns with coastal protection requirements.
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