Gouville-sur-Mer Wastewater Treatment Plant - Advanced Treatment, Normandy Coast

The Gouville-sur-Mer wastewater treatment plant, known locally as 'GOUVILLE SUR MER _ boues activees,' is located in the commune of Gouville-sur-Mer in the Manche department of Normandy, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,150, placing it within the small to medium agglomeration category under French regulations. It is situated near the English Channel coast, less than 10 km from the shoreline. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 4,500 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 740.35 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. As a French facility, it operates under national water law (Code de l'environnement) and is subject to permits issued by the local water agency (Agence de l'eau Seine-Normandie). The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the English Channel. The coastal environment supports diverse marine life and is part of the broader Normandy coastline, known for its tidal habitats and migratory bird populations. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive coastal waters from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the local catchment that flows into the English Channel near the Cotentin Peninsula. This coastal zone features dynamic tidal ecosystems, including salt marshes and intertidal flats that support diverse marine life and migratory birds. Advanced treatment at the plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in the sensitive coastal waters.