Overview
Mondeville wastewater treatment plant serves the Caen urban area in Normandy, France, with a population equivalent of 287,255. It is located near the coast and discharges into the Orne River basin.
The Mondeville wastewater treatment plant is a major municipal facility serving the Caen urban area in the Calvados department of Normandy, France. Located in the commune of Mondeville, it handles wastewater from a population equivalent of approximately 287,255, classifying it as a large agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a large agglomeration in a sensitive coastal area, the plant is expected to provide tertiary treatment under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) to protect the receiving environment. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating a substantial infrastructure investment. The treated effluent is discharged into the Orne River, which flows northward through Caen and into the English Channel at Ouistreham. This coastal discharge point is within 50 km of the coast, making the plant subject to stringent nutrient removal requirements to prevent eutrophication in the marine environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Orne River, which drains a catchment of approximately 2,500 km² and flows into the Baie de Seine in the English Channel. This coastal zone supports diverse marine life, including nursery grounds for fish and important bird populations. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms, so advanced treatment is critical for maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive estuary.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Mondeville, a commune in the Calvados department of Normandy, France, near the city of Caen. Its address is Route de Colombelles, Clopée, Mondeville.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 287,255, covering the Caen urban area and surrounding communities.
Treated effluent is discharged into the Orne River, which flows northward through Caen and into the English Channel at Ouistreham.
As a French plant serving over 150,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires tertiary treatment for discharges into sensitive coastal areas.
For large agglomerations (>150,000 PE) in coastal zones, French regulations mandate advanced treatment with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect marine ecosystems.
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