POTIGNY Wastewater Treatment Plant, Potigny, Normandy, France

The POTIGNY wastewater treatment plant is located in Potigny, a commune in the Calvados department of Normandy, France. It serves a population of approximately 3,608 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under French and EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and discharges into local watercourses that ultimately drain to the English Channel. As an advanced treatment facility, POTIGNY goes beyond the secondary treatment requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This level of treatment is typically employed in sensitive areas or where higher effluent quality is needed to protect receiving waters. The plant's designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and actual discharge volume of 643.66 m³/day indicate it operates well below its maximum capacity, allowing for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent from POTIGNY enters the local watershed, which flows through the Orne River basin before reaching the English Channel. This coastal region supports diverse marine life and is important for fisheries and tourism. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream ecosystems, including estuaries and coastal habitats.

The plant discharges into the Orne River basin, which flows northward through Normandy and empties into the English Channel at Ouistreham. The downstream environment includes the Baie de Seine, a productive marine area supporting fish, shellfish, and migratory birds. Advanced treatment at POTIGNY reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, helping to maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal zone.