CAYENNE Lycee Melkior Garre Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cayenne, French Guiana

CAYENNE Lycee Melkior Garre is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, an overseas department of France. The plant serves a small population of 650 people, reflecting its role as a local facility within the urban area. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard typically required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean. As a coastal facility within 10 km of the shore, the plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive marine environment and coastal ecosystems of French Guiana from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the Cayenne area watershed, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean via the Cayenne River estuary. This coastal region supports diverse aquatic life, including mangroves and fish species, and is ecologically sensitive due to its proximity to the ocean. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce the risk of eutrophication and protects downstream marine habitats.