LE QUESNE SE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saint-Aubin-Rivière, Hauts-de-France

LE QUESNE SE is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Saint-Aubin-Rivière, within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,045 people and is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the area. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates under French and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 3,500 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 364.82 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. As a plant serving a small agglomeration, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment based on the sensitivity of the receiving environment. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Somme River and then into the English Channel. The Somme River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and the sensitive coastal environment of the English Channel.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Somme River, which empties into the English Channel. The Somme basin is a lowland river system with rich biodiversity, including migratory fish species. The advanced treatment at LE QUESNE SE reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in the downstream coastal waters.