Honfleur's purification station

A nice example for the new charter of environment in France

Published by Développement Durable the 2008-03-21
Français Anglais Espagnol

---

This site stretching over 4hectares is the biggest set of phytorestoration facilities to the day, with the purpose of restoring natural resources like water, soil and air.

After a biological treatment into the purification plant, the wastewater goes through 16 channels planted with purifying vegetable species in order to reduce or eliminate germs and other residual polluting agents: nitrates, phosphorus, new molecules….

At the end of these channels, the water circulates through two short rotation copses ending with the refining of phosphorus before being released into the Morelle (river of Calvados which flows into the mouth of the Seine).

Composed of a succession of compartments dug into the ground, the filtering gardens of Honfleur plant, permit to reduce the volumes and the mass of the sewage sludge stemming from the purification plant, to mineralize them and filter polluting agents ( up to 95% / reduction by 4 log in bacteriology). This urban sludge could be used then for manure spreading in the parks or the fields.

Air is treated within the purification plant, into a greenhouse which permits to deodorize bad smells H2S, COV by vegetalized filter.

The mayors from the different towns are very proud of this purification plant quite unique. It is a beautiful example for the new environment charter.

---