MERVILLE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Merville, Hauts-de-France

The MERVILLE wastewater treatment plant is located in Merville, a commune in the Nord department of Hauts-de-France, France. The plant serves a population of approximately 7,500 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates appropriate treatment before discharge into freshwater bodies to protect water quality and ecosystems. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local waterways that eventually flow into the Lys River, a tributary of the Scheldt. The Scheldt basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. Proper treatment helps maintain the health of these water bodies.

The plant discharges into the local drainage network that feeds the Lys River, which flows into the Scheldt River and ultimately reaches the North Sea. The Scheldt basin is a densely populated and industrialized region, making wastewater treatment critical for maintaining water quality and supporting aquatic ecosystems, including fish populations and migratory birds.