Ostricourt Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ostricourt, Hauts-de-France

The Ostricourt wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Ostricourt, within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. The facility serves a population of approximately 3,995 people, making it a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats wastewater from the local community. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU UWWTD for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 7,167 m³/day and currently discharges 712.70 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Scheldt River basin, which flows through France and Belgium before reaching the North Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the ecological health of these waterways, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality in the Scheldt estuary.

The plant discharges into the local river system within the Scheldt basin, which flows northward through the Hauts-de-France region into Belgium and ultimately into the North Sea via the Western Scheldt estuary. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is an important migratory corridor for fish. The advanced treatment at Ostricourt helps reduce nutrient loading, mitigating eutrophication risks in the downstream estuary and coastal zone.