CAYENNE APOUNOU Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cayenne, French Guiana

CAYENNE APOUNOU is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, an overseas department of France. The plant serves a population of 1,200 and is situated in the Lotissement Patawa area, near the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As part of France's national wastewater infrastructure, it operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for collection and treatment. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 632.00 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 214.08 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity. Advanced treatment is typical for sensitive coastal areas to protect marine ecosystems from eutrophication. The treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean via local waterways. The coastal waters near Cayenne support diverse marine life, including mangroves and estuaries that serve as nurseries for fish and crustaceans. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological health of the surrounding marine environment.

The plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of French Guiana, a region characterized by extensive mangrove forests and estuaries. These ecosystems provide critical habitat for fish, birds, and invertebrates, and act as natural filters for runoff. The advanced treatment level reduces the risk of eutrophication and protects the sensitive coastal waters from excessive nutrients and pollutants.